A grateful mother whose baby was born more than three months prematurely is organising a charity event to thank the hospital staff who saved her child’s life.

Phillippa Munns, of Fearn Way, Garston, feared the worst when daughter Sophia was born in November 2009 at just 27 weeks gestation.

But, thanks to the skill and determination of staff at Watford General Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit, she now has a happy and healthy little girl.

Together with another parent whose child was treated at the unit, she has organised a family fun day at Hemel Hempstead Football Club on Sunday to raise much-needed cash for the unit.

She explained: “The staff at the unit – every single one of them – are absolutely fantastic, and we both just wanted to do something to say thank you to them. Without them Sophia would not be here today and I can’t do enough to thank them. I now have a healthy and happy child and it’s all thanks to them.

“They’ve got all the necessities that they need but they always need other equipment to keep them going.”

The event, which will take place between midday and 7pm, will include a five-a-side football tournament, dancing, live music, food stalls, a children’s entertainer and a tombola.

An array of star prizes, including a pair of footballer John Terry’s boots and a foreign holiday, will also be auctioned off.

Mrs Munns, who invited many of the unit’s medical staff to her daughter’s christening, is now a frequent visitor to the unit, where she regularly speaks to parents of premature babies to give them hope, encouragement and inspiration.