A YORK retailer has been inspired to hold a fundraising raffle by his four-year-old son who was cared for at the city's Special Care Baby Unit.

Aasif Rabbani, 23, who runs Haxby Road Post Office shop where his father, Ghulam Rabbani, is postmaster, asked his suppliers for items to raffle in aid of the SCBU and Haxby Road Nursery.

Aasif's son Siraaj, four, was born prematurely and was cared for at the unit for five weeks. The youngster now attends nearby Haxby Road Nursery and both cash-strapped services are in need of specialist equipment.

Items on offer in the raffle include a Carlsberg Export refrigerator, a meal for two at The Plough in Fulford, football goals, a football and branded glasses.

Tickets cost 50p each and Mr Rabbani is hoping to raise as much money as possible for the two good causes.

He said: "My son was in the Special Care Baby Unit when he was born. He was born four weeks premature and was having problems feeding. They looked after him for five days, and he's fine now. That place is magnificent."

Tickets go on sale next Friday at Haxby Road Post Office, Fulford Post Office and at Haxby Road Nursery.

Updated: 08:39 Tuesday, April 22, 2003