A DISTRAUGHT couple lost their premature baby son just three days before they were due to get married.

Craig Banks, 33, and Rachel Gilhooley, 26, were so devastated by the loss of their first child Sam that they cancelled their wedding day.

Sam was stillborn when he arrived on May 25 at Queens Park Hospital, Blackburn.

His family are awaiting the results of a post mortem examination to find the cause of his death.

Craig, of Milton Close, Great Harwood, and Rachel, of Birch Hall, Darwen, had been due to get married on May 28 this year -- almost eight weeks before Sam was due to be born.

But with just days to go tragedy struck when Rachel went into labour.

And instead of celebrating their wedding, the couple instead had to plan a funeral.

A service, attended by members of their family, and conducted by Pastor Frank Andrews of Hyndburn Christian Fellowship, was held last Monday at Pleasington Cemetery.

The couple are hoping they can marry on July 24 at Accrington Register Office.

Craig's sister, Glenda Richmond, 35, who had travelled from Morecambe for Sam's funeral service, said: "They were so looking forward to their wedding day. They are both very much in love. This has been terrible for them."

Craig's mum Josephine Banks, 58, also of Milton Close, Great Harwood, said: "It is never nice to go to a funeral whether it is a young person or an old one.

"We are now all trying to put this behind us and are looking forward to their wedding day."