TWENTY-FIVE years ago, Steven Holdsworth was born three months premature, weighing just over a pound -the same as a bag of sugar.

Put in an incubator, he faced a battle for life as doctors worked around the clock to keep him alive.

Today, he is fit and healthy and, with his wife, Tracy, is preparing himself for fatherhood.

Mr Holdsworth, a supermarket worker, said: "When I was born, my lungs had not formed properly, and I was in a pretty bad condition.

"But, fingers crossed, my baby will be staying put until he is due to arrive in a few weeks time."

In 1980, it was a different story for Steven's parents, Mike and Carole, from Washington. Mrs Holdsworth, now 53, had suffered several miscarriages before she became pregnant. Specialists at the former Princess Mary Hospital in Newcastle admitted her early, so they were on hand when Steven arrived.

He was one of the first babies to be looked after by the Tiny Lives Appeal, which was set up to help support premature babies and their families, and which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.