BIRMINGHAM City football star Paul Caddis cut the ribbon on two new parent rooms at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital after The Libby Mae’s Little Angels charity funded its £11,000 refurbishment.

The winger opened the new rooms on Friday, January 22 with Libby Mae’s parents Charlotte and Richard Sharratt, who were keen to refurbish the parent facilities having used similar rooms during their daughter’s short but brave battle for life.

Mrs Sharratt said: “The unit caters for pre-term babies born anywhere from 23 weeks and weighting anything from 550 grams which is smaller than a bag of sugar.

“That in itself is tough for parents as staff treat the new born but at last by providing decent accommodation we can help maybe make life a little easier and giving mum and dad a little comfort whilst they are at their baby’s side.”

Patients at the hospital were asked what they thought should be included in the new rooms, which have now been fitted with new flooring, tiles, soft furnishings, a microwave, crockery and cutlery.

The Sharratts regularly fundraise for Birmingham Heartlands Hospital as well as 17 other neonatal units across the Midlands in memory of their daughter.

Blues player Paul said: “These facilities are vital and I also recognise how vital the work Richard and Charlotte have done here though raising funds for the rooms.”

He has donated a match worn shirt and boots to the charity which will be raffled off at a future Libby Mae fundraiser.

Jo Payne, head of midwifery at Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are so grateful to Charlotte and Rich and everyone at Libby Mae’s Little Angels for helping create these fantastic spaces in the neonatal unit.

“Thanks to them we have two wonderfully refurbished rooms which will make such a difference to parents at what can be a very tough and emotional time.”

The couple are currently organising a charity ball at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham and hope to raise £15,000 to buy ventilators for the ward.