A WELL-KNOWN couple of Clarets fans have raised vital funds to buy a new incubator at Burnley General Hospital.

Derek Rocky' Mills, of Woodend Road, Burnley, raised £1,300 for the special care baby unit by shaving off his beard.

He and wife Jean decided they wanted to raise money after Jean's daughter, Lydia, (pictured above), was born premature and died when she was just a day old. She would have been 16 now.

The couple presented the cash to staff at the hospital last week.

Jean said: "Lydia lived for a day but there wasn't an incubator then.

"It was really upsetting but it's not something that's openly talked about so we felt it was important to try and help and also raise awareness of the good work that is done by all the staff who work at the hospital."

The loyal Burnley fans known as Rocky' and Rockette' thanked both home and away supporters for helping the cause.

The pair dressed up as Father Christmas and Mrs Christmas during the festive season and used every Burnley match as a chance to collect funds for the unit.

Jean, 63, added: "The supporters have been fantastic. One couple gave us £20 which was very generous. The Burnley League Club allowed us to hold the shave there and didn't charge us and Fulledge Conservative Club gave us £50.

"We have been overwhelmed by the amount of support we've had and would like to thank everyone. The money will be used to help premature babies born every year."

Linda Watson, matron of the baby unit, said: "We would like to thank the Mills family. The money will go into our First Link fund to buy equipment for the unit."