A team of neonatal nurses and midwives at a Birmingham hospital were honoured at a national awards ceremony for saving a 26-week-old baby.

Harris Gashi barely tipped the scales at 1lb 14oz (865g) when he was born at City Hospital in August 2002.

The two-and-a-half-years-old was one of the young stars at the Maternity Unit Miracles Awards held at the National Motorcycle Museum, in Bickenhill, for the awards ceremony on Thursday

His mother, Susan, had been due to give birth at the George Elliot Hospital, in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, where she lives with husband Leonart.

Harris contracted E-coli and MRSA and just weeks later he developed pneumonia and was put on a ventilator.

In October 2002 he was transferred to George Elliot and was home in time for Christmas.

"I can never thank the team at City Hospital enough for saving our son's life," said Mrs Gashi, who nominated the neonatal staff for an award.

"When Harris did come home he was still oxygen-dependent ? he needed to have it 24 hours a day ? which is a daunting prospect.

"But City's neonatal staff deserve full credit and more for turning my boy's life around after such a shaky start."

Christine Evans, who has been a neonatal nurse at City Hospital since 1978, said the biggest reward in her job was seeing babies like Harris grow into "healthy, happy children."

She said: "It's nice to be appreciated for what we do but really it's about the babies, and you can't put a price on the work we do helping them.

"I don't think any of us look for praise or recognition, but everyone likes to hear people say thank you once in a while."

The inaugural ceremony, organised by Coventry-based Baby Lifeline, honoured maternity staff from nine regional hospitals for their life-saving work.

Judy Ledger, who founded the charity in 1981 after losing three babies, said: "The stories we've heard are not unusual, there are thousands of these stories being written everyday in hospitals around Britain.

"This demonstrates that through adversity, the determination, dedication and incredible care given by maternity health professionals many of our babies have survived the most dangerous journey in life ? birth."

Prime Minister Tony Blair sent a video message of support to the charity, praising its efforts in raising more than #6 million for vital equipment and staff training.

The event was also supported by celebrities including Blue singer Antony Costa, actor Jimmi Harkishin - who plays Dev Alahan in Coronation Street - and Coventry City manager Mickey Adams.

The national award was handed to Liverpool Women's Hospital who treated Jon Prayle who was born at 25 weeks, weighing just 1lb 10oz. He is now four-years-old, still has chronic lung disease but is otherwise healthy.