A TRIO of delighted dads are hoping that pedal power will translate into pounds when they take part in a charity bike ride to thank the hospitals which saved the lives of their premature babies.

The dads, and six of their former school friends, will be riding from Blackpool Tower to Scarborough to raise money for the Neo-Natal units at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, and Pendlebury Children's Hospital, Manchester.

The sponsored trip will start on September 17 and the lads hope the 140 mile coast-to-coast race will take no longer than three days.

Philip Smith, 34, and his partner Julie McDonald's baby Sam, now five and a half months, was born at only 27 weeks. He weighed just 2lb 9oz and spent the first four months of his life in Queen's Park Hospital followed by a week at Pendlebury.

Julie, 35, of Faraday Avenue, Clitheroe, said: "Sam was really struggling to stay with us, he couldn't breathe and it was a really hard time.

"We just wanted to thank them at both hospitals for everything. They were amazing and we couldn't have done it without their support."

Guy Holstead, 31, of The Crescent, Clitheroe, whose six-month-old son Jack was born at 32 weeks and Stephen King, 33, of Balmoral Avenue, Clitheroe, whose two-year-old daughter Abby had to go to Pendlebury to have a cyst removed from her neck, will also take part.

The ride is being supported by Spencers, Farnsworth's Fresh Foods of Whalley and Ribble Valley Glass Ltd, of Clitheroe, who have provided T-shirts for the lads to wear.

Anyone who would like to help by sponsoring the group can contact 07709 356189.