Two recent fundraisng events have netted nearly £3,000 to help sick and premature babies at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital's neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU).

The hospital needs to raise £1.5 million to kit out its brand new NICU, which due to open next year.

A charity golf day organised by the hospital and held at Harpenden Golf Club was a huge success, with 45 golfers taking to the course in bright sunshine to play 18 holes, raising nearly £2,500 for the NICU.

There were various challenges, such as the longest drive, held throughout the day, which were sponsored by companies including Pictons Solicitors, Motorbodies, Xenon and HSBC.

A separate event at Luton Airport saw firefighters based there raise a fantastic £408 for the NICU appeal by rowing a massive 100,000 metres in six hours and 25 minutes on a rowing machine inside the main airport terminal building.

It followed the completion of a gruelling triathlon by four of the station's staff - Gary Salvage, Nick Inskip and Kevin Grant - on the Isle of Wight earlier in the year. The money raised will go towards an apnoea monitor, which will alert staff to premature and sick babies who 'forget' to breathe.

And it wasn't the first time the firefighters at the airport have donated to the NICU - they are long-term supporters and over the years have donated £3,500.