A BABY who was given a 15 per cent chance of survival when he was born four months prematurely, has battled against the odds to celebrate his first birthday today.

Spencer Gaffney-Williams weighed only 1lb 11oz when born. His parents were told that if he did overcome the odds of survival there was still an 80 per cent possibility of him being disabled.

However, a year later, he weighs a healthy 19lbs, and medical tests have revealed that Spencer has a very good chance of growing up without any disability.

Mother Sarah Gaffney said: "This is an important milestone for us. Spencer still has to go for check-ups and still gets a lot of chest infections, but the doctors have told us he is progressing well and that is really pleasing. We are just so overwhelmed."

What makes Spencer's fight even more special is that earlier last year, Sarah and her partner Graeme Williams had a son, Joe, who was also born four months premature but, despite putting up a brave battle, he died aged just five weeks.

When Spencer was also born early, the couple, from Billingham, feared they would have to go through the experience of losing a second child.

Miss Gaffney said: "It was very hard when Spencer was born and he has come through a lot. He had to have a heart operation when he was seven weeks old, lots of kidney scans and he also had bleeding on the brain.

" We do not know how this is going to affect him when he is older and at school.

"At present he has the ability of an eight-month-old but he is doing well."

Spencer is also the apple of his older brother Charlie's eye and the ten-year-old has decided to raise money for the neo-natal unit at the University Hospital of North Tees by taking part in the junior Great North Run.

Miss Gaffney said: "It was something he decided to do himself and I am very proud."

The family are spending Spencer's birthday on holiday in Kent.