THE parents of a boy born ten weeks premature have expressed their gratitude to a hospital by raising more than £6,000 for its special care baby unit.

Tiny Matthew Corder weighed little more than a bag of sugar when he was born at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Gateshead, on April 14. But with the dedicated care and expertise of Gateshead Health NHS Trust nurses and specialists, he gradually grew stronger and was home with his parents after just five weeks of special care at the unit.

With Matthew healthy at home, parents Rory and Lynne Corder decided they wanted to do something for the trust in return and organised a sponsored abseil from the Tyne Bridge.

They signed up more than 80 Gateshead Health NHS Trust staff, family and friends to take on the challenge and raise a contribution to pay for new equipment at the special care unit.

Mr Corder said: "We are so grateful to all the staff at the unit for saving Matthew's life and for their whole professional and caring approach."

Christine Dunn, head of midwifery responsible for special care at the hospital, said: "This is a wonderful gesture from Lynne and Rory and a fabulous way to give something back to the unit.