RUGBY World Cup star Will Greenwood today thanked the people of East Lancashire for their support after he became the father of a new-born son.

Will and wife Caro are celebrating the arrival of seven and a half pound Archie Frederick Louis Greenwood who was born in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital at 7.30pm on Saturday.

Blackburn-born Will had an anxious time when he flew back from the Rugby Union World Cup in Australia to wife Caro's hospital bedside as she suffered complications 22 weeks into her pregnancy.

But as Caro improved, the England centre jetted back to Australia to play a crucial role in the team which would ultimately beat Australia to lift the World Cup.

The couple lost their first baby, Frederick, who was born prematurely, at 21 weeks, in September 2002, and in a tribute to his memory they have chosen Frederick as a middle name for their new son.

Proud grandparents Susan and Richard Greenwood who live in Avenue Road, Hurst Green, said they are absolutely delighted with the arrival of a "little miracle".

Will today said: "I would like to thank all the people of East Lancashire who have shown support to Caro and I, and thank those who have offered words of kindness and friendship to my mum and dad.

"People have been marvellous and very thoughtful. We are overjoyed."

Susan added: "It's wonderful news. Archie is seven and a half pounds and very healthy. Caro is out of hospital and doing fine and we are looking forward to seeing them this weekend.

"Will has always empathised with children and it's everything he could wish for.

"He will be six foot five and carrying this small bundle around with him, it will look quite something!"

Susan said that when Will had to fly back to Australia the family feared the worst.

She said: "It was a worrying time. We thought Caro was going to lose him so it's been a real rollercoaster.

"Archie is just a little miracle, he's so healthy."

Susan, a maths teacher at St Mary's Hall, Stonyhurst, wrote a World Cup diary for the Lancashire Evening Telegraph during the tournament, chronicling the ups and downs the family experienced.

She said: "The coverage in the paper generated a lot of comfort because people have been so thoughtful and were always asking questions about how Caro was doing People have been very supportive."

Susan said she could not rule out Archie following in his father's and grandfather's footsteps and playing rugby for England but she said she hoped he would have different interests.

"I think we are due a musician in the family," she said.