A GREAT-GRANNY braved the shave to say thanks to hospital staff for helping save her prematurely-born great-granddaughter.

Denise Stuart from High Beech Road, Bream, raised more than £600 towards special baby care after little Rosie was born more than three months early last July, weighing just one pound nine ounces.

Her granddaughter Skie Phelps didn’t even know she was pregnant when she was rushed into Cheltenham Hospital after suffering a fall at home.

“I was in a bit of a daze anyway, so when they told me I was 24 weeks pregnant and now in labour because of the fall, it was a bit of a shock,” revealed the Yorkley 20-year-old. “I had no idea I was expecting, and 10 hours later Rosie was born.”

Fifty-nine-year-old Denise underwent the head shave at the Ryelands Centre in Bream last week, supported by Skie and her baby, who now weighs eight pounds and is well on the way to recovery.

And the brave great-gran revealed that she lost her locks as her way of saying thanks, because she suffers with Parkinsons and arthritis.

“I can’t do a sponsored walk or bike ride, so I thought ‘let’s have a hair cut’,” she said.

“Rosie’s brilliant now. She finally came home after two and a half months on oxygen, and now only needs oxygen at night.

“She’s made huge strides and is a real character - she’s a wonder baby to us, given how she’s pulled through.

“The nurses and doctors at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Southmead and the Gloucestershire Hospital Special Baby Care Unit later on were marvellous.”

Braving the shave was Denise’s daughter Lisa Jackson, while granddaughter Starr Jackson and her eight-month-old son supported her, with Denise’s partner Dave Powell, and their friends from the Ryelands Centre coffee club.

Skie, who cheered her gran on at the head shave with partner Andy Hanks, said: “My Nan’s really brave, I don’t think I could do that.

“She’s always been a bit of a daredevil. And just in time for the cold weather. I told her she should have waited until the summer.”

“Rosie was taken to Southmead and the hospital staff were brilliant. It’s thanks to them that she pulled through and is healthy and happy.”