BABY Rio McIntosh kicked up more than a fuss when he was delivered 12 weeks prematurely.

He weighed in at just 2lbs 7ozs and, as he and mum Jacqueline lay seriously ill in Queen's Park Hospital in Blackburn, soccer-mad dad Sean vowed that one day he would say a proper thank you to the devoted staff there.

He is organising a football-themed charity auction to raise cash for the baby unit that has helped baby Rio who was smaller than a football.

He said: "The staff in neo-natal saved their lives. I'm just so grateful. I felt I had to do something."

Three months after the traumatic birth, Rio is still in hospital but is slowly gaining strength -- and now tips the scales at a healthy 6lbs 9ozs.

And Sean, of Birtwistle Street, Great Harwood, is busy enlisting the soccer heroes of Blackburn Rovers and Burnley to give Queen's Park a big cash boost at a charity auction.

The Clarets have donated a football signed by the team's promotion-seeking stars, a top and a pennant.

And David Dunn, Blackburn Rovers' midfield ace, has promised to help out gathering Ewood mementos on his return from leading the England-Under 21s in Slovenia this week.

"He's great -- and he's a Great Harwood lad," Sean added.

Jacqueline had suffered severe bouts of morning sickness for months before Rio was born.

"It was appalling," Sean said. "It was caused by a complication and it meant she had to have an emergency section 12 weeks early. It was touch and go."

Soccer fanatic Sean, who is warehouse supervisor at Coach House Antiques in Colne, admits he chose baby Rio's name because he's a big fan of Leeds United's defender Rio Ferdinand.

"Jacqueline was still quite ill at the time, so she didn't complain," he joked.

The charity auction will be held at 7.30pm on Friday February 22 at the United Services Social Club in Commercial Road, Great Harwood.