THE parents of a stillborn baby have donated thousands of pounds to set up a quiet room at Burnley General Hospital.

Sarah Bernasconi, 35, and her fiancée Mark Parsons, 38, raised £2,300 through an online auction, where they donated an array of goods from guitars to designer handbags, and a variety of fun days.

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The room in the gynaecology and breast care unit will be there for families who need some space after receiving bad news such as an early pregnancy loss or a cancer diagnosis The room is set to open within the next eight to 12 weeks.

The couple lost their daughter Maggie Pearl in the central birth suite last June when Miss Bernasconi was already 39 weeks pregnant.

Miss Bernasconi, of Mitton Close, Livesey, said: “When Mark and I heard the gynaecology and breast care team needed help, especially for bad news such as going through an early pregnancy loss like myself, we wanted to help.

“The quality of care from the staff at Burnley General Hospital was second to none and I am still close friends with the midwife and the team.

“We were able to stay in the Butterfly Serenity Suite and it meant so much to us to have that time away and to say goodbye to Maggie.

“It also meant my family from Spain could come over and meet her.

“That was invaluable so I just wanted other people to have that same support.”

The room will also have tea, coffee and biscuits after Miss Bernasconi and Mr Parsons also raised cash for plates, cups and saucers.

The Butterfly Serenity Suite was set up at Burnley last year with the idea coming from Joanne and Mark Edwards whose son Luke was stillborn at the hospital in March 2013.

However there has not been a room in the gynaecology and breast care unit for any receiving bad news before.

It comes after the couple raised £7,000 in just nine weeks to pay for a cold cot at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The specialist cot allows bereaved parents to hold onto their baby a little longer by keeping it cool after its death.

Tracy Bracewell, lead staff nurse for gynaecology, said: “We are ever so grateful to be able to provide a very much-needed quiet area, where families, patients can go when they are likely going through one of the hardest times in their lives.”