Parents involved in Bradford Royal Infirmary’s £2 million neonatal unit expansion and refurbishment have cut the first sod marking the start of work.

To celebrate the occasion, parents of babies who received care and treatment on the unit and who were involved in the new building’s re-design, joined doctors and nurses at a ceremony yesterday.

Clinical services manager Sarah Spzara said: “We are absolutely delighted that work on this new, improved unit has finally started here at the BRI.”

Caroline Bello-Osagie, of Bierley, was among the parents who were involved in the unit’s design.

The mum-of-three and her husband, Kehinde said their involvement has helped ease the grief of losing their baby girl, Aisosa, who was born at 25 weeks and two days on July 11, 2012.