THE mother of an extremely premature baby said she is touched that a York music festival is being organised in her daughter’s honour.

Laura Jackson, 21, whose daughter Lily-Mai was born 12 weeks prematurely, said she is delighted that Dudestock 2011 festival is planned to take place on Knavesmire to help raise money for York’s Special Care Baby Unit.

Its organisers said they have been inspired to try and raise money for the unit after hearing of the experiences parents, including Laura, have had in the unit.

Lily-Mai, who is now 17 months old, was born 12 weeks prematurely and weighing less than 2lbs.

She had to go through three blood transfusions and doctors feared for her life but after 11 weeks in the Special Care Baby Unit Lily-Mai recovered enough to go home.

Laura, of Tuke Avenue, in Tang Hall, said: “The unit was really, really good and helped to support me as well as Lily. I thought I was going to lose her at the time.

“I don’t think people realise the expense of the unit and the hard work of the nurses there.”

Dudestock 2011, which is being held on June 18, will feature local bands and promises a “family-friendly daytime period and a night of revelry and great music”.

It is being headlined by T-Rex, a new line up of the band created by Mickey Finn. Kristian Lewin, the event manager of Dudestock, said: “It’s going to be a fantastic day out for all the family. It will be a fantastic day of music and it’s for such a good cause – we, or our families, may need the Special Care Baby Unit ourselves.”

The 11 organisers of the festival are working with the York Special Care Baby Unit support group to organise suitable equipment, such as incubators for the unit.

The ward is purpose built and provides care for up to 15 babies. Two of the cots are dedicated for intensive care and the remainder are used for high-dependency and the special care needs of some of the babies.

Tickets to the event cost £7.50 to £10. For more information about the festival, including how to buy tickets, visit dudestock.co.uk