PARENTS of a miracle baby born three months early, weighing just 2lbs 15oz have launched a £55,000 fundraising appeal to help her to walk.

Alexia-Rose was delivered by emergency Caesarean at Colchester General Hospital.

Doctors warned her parents Emily and Toby Sinclair she might not survive and told them to choose a name on the operating table – so they named her after their midwife.

Alexia-Rose, now 15 months old, has been diagnosed with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy.

She is unable to sit unaided, crawl, feed herself, play with toys or balance, and her eyes have a stigmatism, so she can only see to arm’s length.

Mrs Sinclair, 32, of Colchester Road, Weeley, said the family need up to £55,000 to pay for a hydrotherapy pool and selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery, which will improve her chances of walking.

See Friday's Gazette for the full story