MANCHESTER United star Phil Neville has appealed to health bosses to scrap "once and for all" proposals which could mark the end of the Fairfield Hospitals special care baby unit.

The Bury-born England player spoke in support of the unit which nursed back to health his premature daughter. His comments follow a U-turn by health bosses, who last week withdrew the proposals saying that more detailed work needed to be done.

Fresh proposals will be drawn up and put for public consultation next summer.

The decision by the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority came a week after 3,000 people - including members of Phil's family - marched through the town in protest against the planned reduction in womens and childrens services.

Phil, now living in Rossendale, said: "Plans to close the special care baby unit at Fairfield should be removed.

"But the people of Bury should not rest on their laurels. We need to keep up the momentum to en- sure the unit stays open.

"I will do what I can. The special care baby unit was a Godsend to me and my family. This is a fantastic unit and cannot close."

He admitted: "I did not know that Fairfield Hospital had a special care baby unit. It is only when you need it that you really appreciate how important the unit at Fairfield is."

Now nine-months-old, Isabella Neville was born at just 32 weeks by emergency Caesarean section at St Marys Hospital, Manchester.

Phil (27) and his wife, Julie (29), opted to go NHS rather than private because Phil himself, along with his siblings, had been born at Fairfield Hospital.

"St Mary's Hospital had been recommended by our GP and Harvey, who is now two, had been born there. We thought it would be a normal pregnancy again and Julie would be in and out of hospital quickly."

But complications arose when Julie's waters broke early, and despite prolonging the pregnancy for a further two weeks, doctors were forced to deliver Isabella by Caesarean section.

Weighing only 3 lbs 3 oz, Isabella was taken to the hospital's special care baby unit, where she spent one week, before being transferred to Fairfield's unit.

St Marys Hospital has a fantastic reputation and the first question we asked was, would the care at Fairfield Hospital be just as good? The answer was a resounding yes, said Phil.

"Transferring Isabella to Fairfield Hospital meant she was much closer to my family who live in Bury. We were all a 20-minute drive away, and could be at the hospital quickly if needed."

Isabella stayed under the care of Fairfield Hospital for five weeks.

"Isabella is doing well and has no problems," said Phil. He added: "You cannot imagine what it feels like watching your child fight for its life. It was heartbreaking the most difficult time of my life."

Phil added: "The staff at Fairfield Hospital are fantastic, and look after babies who were born much earlier than Isabella. We were at the hospital every day visiting our daughter and we built up a good relationship with them."