It is hoped the special care baby unit at the West Cumberland Hospital, in Whitehaven, will allow more local mothers to be near their ill child.

The facility was formerly a viewing room, but has been totally refurbished.

Now it has several wards as well as mother and baby rooms.

One of those who has used the unit is Fiona Whitehead, from Maryport, whose son Daniel was four weeks early when she gave birth to him last week.

She said it was important for her to be near her son.

She said: "It was awful because I was round on the ward and I could hear babies crying and I was thinking that Daniel was around the corner and I was worrying about him.

"I feel a lot more settled that I can be with him now."