NEARLY eight years ago Teresa Steele suffered a still birth after finding out that her first child had died in her womb. The devastation of losing her daughter Monica has never left her and now she wants to do everything she can to support other bereaved parents.

She and her husband James have gone on to have three healthy children including baby Harry who was born in October but the memory of the little girl that did not survive lives with them all constantly.

In 2015 Mrs Steele, 36, from Market Lavington, near Devizes set up a Devizes sub branch of the the charity SANDS which helps family who have suffered a still birth or neo-natal death with the help of her aunt Sue Nash.

Two years ago they launched an appeal for memorial to be put in Hillworth Park, Devizes as a focus for bereaved parents and following a wide variety of fundraising events which have raised most of the £12,500 needed it is hoped it will be put in place in the summer of 2018.

Mrs Steele, who grew up in Devizes, is a former pupil of Devizes School, served for four years in the Royal Navy lost her baby after suffering from pre-eclampsia at 29 weeks into her pregnancy.

In the dark days that followed the trauma of finding out her baby had died in her womb and then having to undergo the birth knowing she would not be taking a child home she was supported by the Swindon branch of SANDS.

She said: "I was in the delivery suite at Great Western Hospital still very unwell myself and knowing that after seven months of carrying Monica I would not be taking her home.

"But the fact that SANDS was involved with the hospital made all the difference as the midwives knew how to support me. I was given Monica to hold and a memory box was made up of precious items such as photographs and casts of her hand along with a lock of hair."

Mrs Steele, who also has children James, six, and Gabriella, four, was inspired to become involved in the charity and takes it in turns with her aunt to run a helpline for mothers who have lost a baby.

She said: "People want to speak to someone who understand what they are going through."Mrs Steele knows that the loss stays for ever but comfort can be gained from speaking to others in the same situation.

She now takes nothing for granted and with the births of her three other children she did not relax until they were born and knew they were healthy.

The Devizes group meets on the last Thursday of every month at St James Parish Rooms from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. For more information got to http://www.swindonsands.org