Archie Edwards is only eight weeks old, but he's already had to fight more than his fair share of battles.

The tot was born prematurely in Burnley General Hospital at 25 weeks gestation, weighing just 1lb 11oz.

Since then, he's fought off an E. coli infection, sepsis and Covid-19.

When Archie was born on December 1, 2020, he wasn't breathing, but was successfully resuscitated by medics.

Parents Sheree Murray, 21, and Robert Edwards, 21, couldn't even touch their little boy at first.

"His skin was quite tender so we weren't really allowed to touch him," said Sheree, from Colne. "I finally got to hold his hand four days after he was born.

"It felt absolutely magical holding his hand - it was scary but magical at the same time."

Archie, whose due date was March 14, 2021, was taken to intensive care and put on a ventilator.

He caught a bacterial infection that led to sepsis when he was around five weeks old.

Shortly afterwards, Sheree and Robert were devastated when he tested positive for Covid-19.

"I think that was the scariest part," said Sheree. "It was scary when he was born but then when they said he had Covid-19, I just wanted a black hole to swallow me up."

Archie was put into isolation, and although his parents tested negative for the virus, they weren't allowed to see him for 10 days.

Ever the fighter, he saw off the virus, and on January 14 Sheree was able to hold her son for the first time in weeks.

She said: "I cried, a lot!"

Today, Archie weighs 3lbs 1oz and Sheree is hopeful that he could soon leave intensive care.

She is full of praise for the hospital staff. "I think the care has been absolutely amazing." she said.

"Even when they got told he might not make it, they fought harder for him."

Sheree, formerly a mental health student at UCLAN Burnley, and Robert, a construction worker, couldn't be prouder of their son.

"There have been times when I've just though to myself he isn't going to pull through, so he has shocked me quite a few times," said Sheree.

Due to the pandemic, Archie isn't allowed to see his mum and dad at the same time, so they take turns to visit him.

Her advice for other parents of premature babies is this: "No matter what you get told, just have hope. They are stronger than they look."

But most of all, she said: "I'm just looking forward to getting him home."