EAST Lancashire Conservatives will be raising a glass to a Blackburn councillor who has recently added to the party's numbers.

Derek Hardman, who represents the Livesey with Pleasington ward, and his wife Colette are celebrating the birth of triplets.

Owen James, Abigail Melissa and Ella Louise were born in Queen's Park Hospital last week, much to the relief of their proud parents.

Now Derek and Colette are facing an agonising wait as doctors said the tiny tots need to be kept in a hi-tech neonatal unit for the next few weeks.

Staff on the ward have told Derek and Colette they must be kept in until they are well enough to cope away from the hospital.

In the meantime the triplets are being fed milk every three hours through a small syringe and being doted on by their proud parents.

Derek, 50, and Colette, who is a serving parish councillor, said they were shocked when a scan revealed they were having triplets, their first children together.

But they have since come to terms with the news and are now delighted with their little bundles of joy.

The couple also gave staff at Queen's Park Hospital a big vote of thanks.

Coun Hardman said: "The care of Colette and the babies has been first class.

"Her consultant, Mr Goodall, asked Colette, 36, to come to hospital five weeks ago to make sure she got enough rest and care. The staff in the neonatal intensive care were also superb."

To thank the ward Derek said he is planning to pay for a new breathing monitor, similar to those being used on Owen James, Abigail Melissa and Ella Louise.

The couple, who have been married for ten years, have also had to move into a four bedroom house big enough to cope with the new additions to their family. Derek added: "It's been a frantic few weeks, but now things are settling down a bit."