A mum's Christmas wish came true when she was able to cradle her baby son in her arms at her Bradford home.

Debbie Newman, whose partner died just before his son was born, didn't think Kian would be well enough to leave hospital until the new yea.

The baby was born five weeks prematurely and with a hole in his heart on November 2.

But doctors at Bradford Royal Infirmary special care baby unit have been delighted with his progress and allowed the tiny tot home to spend Christmas with his mother.

But Christmas Day was tinged with sadness for the family, of Oddy Street, Bradford, as they visited the grave of Kian's father, John Hollinger, in Scholemoor Cemetery.

Debbie, 38, said: "It is brilliant having Kian home for Christmas but of course it is very upsetting not having John here with us. The family were all around, but it is not the same without John."

John, 34, was found dead by Debbie, 38, at the couple's former home in Denbury Mount, Holme Wood, on Thursday, October 24.

An inquest still has to be held to establish the exact circumstances of his death, but it is believed he died of natural causes.

A shocked Debbie went into labour the day after John's funeral and Kian was born weighing only 4lb 11oz. Doctors were particularly worried about a hole in his heart and for a month a distraught Debbie kept a vigil over her seriously-ill son at the special care baby unit at BRI.

Shortly before Christmas doctors surprised the mother-of-three by telling her she could take Kian home.

"We had resigned ourselves to having Christmas at the hospital," said Debbie.

"But when I was on a routine visit a nurse stopped me in the corridor. My heart sank because I thought there was something wrong, but they told me he could go home. I just stood and cried."

Kian has to return to the hospital to see a cardiologist in January.

"But touch wood his future health should be fine," said Debbie. "We are keeping our fingers crossed."

And she has nothing but praise for the doctors and nurses who looked after her son in his first month of life.

"I can't thank them enough," she said. "For Kian it was like having a hundred mums at one go. They could not do enough, not only for him, but also for me."

But one mum is now enough for little Kian, although he is keeping her very busy. "I am very tired, but I am not bothered," said Debbie. I am just glad he is home and all right." Debbie is pictured with Kian.