A BRIERLEY Hill mum hit by the heartache of losing her newborn baby has organised a fundraiser to say thank you to the nurses who were there for her at her lowest point.

Leanne Newell and husband Karl, both 31, were overjoyed when they discovered they was having another baby - a brother for their five-year-old son Joshua - after a series of miscarriages.

But the couple, of Charlton Street, were dealt a crushing blow after Leanne gave birth at Russells Hall Hospital on March 21 - just 29 weeks into her pregnancy.

The tot, named Harrison, was rushed to the neo natal ward but soon after Leanne and Karl discovered the heart-wrenching news that he would not survive as his lungs had not developed properly.

Devastated Leanne was just able to touch her baby's hand through the incubator and feel him grab onto her finger before his heart rate started to drop and she recalls: "His hand started to lose grip on my finger. I knew it was going to happen. The nurses took him off his machines and passed him to me in a blue and white blanket, and while the chaplain was doing the blessing he took his last few breaths in my arms."

The youngster's death at just nine hours old has taken its toll on the family - and Leanne said: "It's been very emotional, everyday is a challenge."

But she said friends and family have been "really supportive" and she and Karl are hugely grateful - and she's now keen to help raise cash for the ward which cared for little Harrison.

Having already collected £660 in donations at the infant's funeral "to say thank you for everything the nurses did" - she wants to raise more money and awareness about premature births and babies and has organised a family fun day at the Blue Brick pub in Dudley Road, Brierley Hill.

She said a number of borough businesses have donated gifts for the event which will take place on Saturday August 20 and she added: "It's the first fundraiser I've done but I'm hoping it will be a success so we can make it an annual event."

The fun day will run from 1pm and will feature stalls, a children's disco, bouncy castle, games, facepainting and glitter tattoos, karaoke and more.

All proceeds will go to the neo natal unit at Russells Hall Hospital.

Leanne is also hoping in the future to set up a support service and get together group for parents in the area going through similar experiences.