BALLOONS sailed into the sky on Saturday to mark the launch of a charity supporting families in the town who have lost a baby.

The local branch of Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, has been formed to help families in Warrington and the surrounding area cope with their loss and hope fundraising this year will lead to a summer family fun day for everyone including siblings, grandparents and aunties and uncles.

Appleton mum Rachel Farrington-Allen is one of the group's volunteers after her son Jamie was stillborn in May 1996.

She added: "When you get that blue line on your pregnancy test you have hopes and dreams and people start knitting things for you.

"Arthur Fowler died the same day and now every time I hear the Eastenders theme tune that night comes back into my head.

"The devastation of coming away from hospital without a baby is long-reaching as my daughter has missed out on having an older brother and always wished she had one."

The 39-year-old, who is mum to Lucie who turns 18 in June, added the support group gives her 'permission' to talk about and celebrate her son.

She said: "We're lucky in Warrington as we have an excellent bereavement midwifery service but they are limited what they can do.

"We will support any kind of family that wants any kind of support whether it be a mum and dad whose child was taken away one day ago or 35 years ago."

Bereaved grandparents Mike Constantinou and his wife Jane launched the group, run entirely by volunteers, and provide support via group meetings, one-to-one support, telephone and email.

He added: “As a family left devastated by the loss of a much wanted baby, we understand the need for a safe place for these families to go to, where they can be with other people who understand the pain and heartbreak which they are going through.

“Any member of the family is welcome to attend our meetings, as we know how a loss affects everyone.

“We decided to launch our fundraising for the year with a balloon release as a lot of our bereaved families feel that releasing a balloon is a comfort and a way of sending a loving message to their child."

For more information about the group search for Warrington Sands on Facebook or Twitter.