Born two months premature and weighing just over 4lbs 70zs, he spent the first six weeks of his life being cared for at Peterborough District Hospital's Special Care Baby Unit.

As a thank-you to the staff who carefully nursed the tot to the full health he enjoys today, parents Michael and Sophie arranged a charity disco to raise much-needed funds for the unit.

Dozens of friends, relatives and colleagues attended the successful event, and the happy family, from Werrington, Peterborough, have presented a cheque for £610 to neo-natal nurse Julie Ince.

Mr Belson (34), who works for city firm Indesit, said: "After what the unit did to help Thomas, we thought the least we could do would be to raise some money for it.

"When he was born he was so tiny his skin was hanging off him, but he's quite big now and doing fantastically well.

"We're glad to have done something in return, and the baby unit deserves every penny. Hopefully, we can carry on raising more money for it in the future."