A Maldon couple, Amie and Aaron Stephens, whose baby tragically died shortly after birth, have raised more than £10,000 for Broomfield Hospital's baby bereavement suite.

A charity golf day held in Langdon Hills helped to raise the money in honour of their daughter, Havana.

Born prematurely at just 37 weeks old, Havana's parents were given invaluable support by the Blossom Suite staff at Broomfield.

Mrs Stephens said: "Staying in the suite with Havana meant that we could cherish the small amount of time we had with our daughter, and we could introduce family to her and capture special memories of our time together.

"At such a tragic time I knew that I was in safe and supportive hands before we even arrived at the hospital."

She further lauded the dedication of the bereavement team at the hospital, adding: "The team went above and beyond; I can’t imagine having been without them at such a time.

"Ensuring that other parents get access to this same level of support is crucial."

Since their loss, the couple have met with others who have experienced a similar bereavement and were struck by the lack of support many received.

Mrs Stephens added: "Ensuring that other parents get access to this same level of support is crucial.

"We’re so pleased that we were able to raise such a significant amount of money to help the unit continue its work."

In recognition of their generosity and selflessness, Tabitha Stuthridge, specialist bereavement midwife, said: "This is such an amazing legacy for baby Havana and we are extremely grateful that Amie and Aaron chose to support our bereaved families.

"The generosity of their fundraising will provide memory making and support materials for families, something we couldn't offer without the fundraising support."