A Hereford couple celebrated their engagement by raising hundreds of pounds for the medical team which treated their premature baby.

Penny Rutherford and Julian Price were so impressed at the care given to their son, Riley, by staff at Hereford County Hospital’s special care baby unit that they asked friends and family to donate money as a thank you.

A total of £700 was collected by the Withington couple, both aged 27, whose son was born six weeks early and weighed just three pounds, eight ounces back in September 2008.

“Riley spent his first month in the special care baby unit and was very well looked after,” said Penny.

“The staff there are all great and do a fantastic job.

“We as parents are very grateful to them as we were able to learn how to look after our premature son and if it wasn’t for them, he may not be here today, therefore we wanted to give something back.”