A couple from Norwich who lost their baby aged just 13-hours-old presented a special cot to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital yesterday after former Norwich city player Darren Huckerby made a donation.

Sarah Rider, 24, and Jon Easter, 34, gave the �1,600 cot to the hospital after they used the machine when they lost their baby Joshua in February this year.

He died of what was thought to have been a very rare genetic condition called Wolman's after being born six weeks early, weighing just 2lb 7oz,

After Joshua's sad death, his parents, who live near Riverside in Norwich, were given the chance to spend more time with their baby at the Quidenham hospice, near Attleborough after he was placed in a cooling cot, allowing extra time to be spent with him.

The couple's experience of the cot, which essentially circulates cold fluid through the mattress pad, inspired them to raise money to give one to their local hospital.

Miss Rider, who works in Jarrolds, said: 'We didn't like the idea of our baby being in the mortuary.

'[Thanks to the cold cot] we used the time to get memories we didn't already have, and it's a way to keep Joshua's memory alive.' Her partner, Mr Easter, who also works in retail, said: 'You can have that first evening and get more time for the family to have memories.'

But he added: 'In an ideal world it will never be used.'

The couple spent three weeks at the hospice with Joshua, before he was cremated at St Faiths Crematorium. Mr Huckerby's Trust donated the money for the cot after Miss Rider wrote to him, asking to help out with a go-kart fundraiser.

Mr Huckerby, who scored more than 50 goals during his time at Norwich City Football Club, said he thought his trust could do more than the go-kart fundraising money, and donated the money for the cot.

He said he hopes the cot can make a difference to people in Norfolk.

David Booth, 45, a consultant on the neo-natal intensive care unit, said it is the first cold cot the hospital has had.

He added: 'The cots can prolong the time that mum and baby can have together after the baby sadly dies.

'And for some parents, the time together before that can feel short.'

Have you been fundraising in a loved-one's memory? Contact the Evening News. Call reporter Rosa McMahon on 01603 772495 or email rosa.mcmahon@archant.co.uk