Friends and family are raising money for the parents of a seven-week-old baby, who passed away suddenly this weekend.

Sophie Healy and Arran Broadhurst, from Ipswich, lost their baby boy Jackson on the morning of Sunday, November 26.

Ms Healy's sister Emma, and Ashley and Chloe Steward, who are close friends of the couple, started the fundraiser to help the parents give baby Jackson the send-off he deserves.

Mr Steward said: "I couldn't believe it. I had only been to visit the night before. I left, giving the twins a kiss on the head in their cot, and didn't think anything of it until 5.30am in the morning when the call came.

Ipswich Star:

"It's hard to know what to do to support someone in this situation. The only way we could express and feel like we were doing something was by reaching out to the public and trying to help them out.

"We know the funds are not going to bring Jackson back, but they will make life easier for them, and they can give Jackson the send-off he deserves."

Jackson was born in Ipswich Hospital in October along with his twin sister Eleia, who Mr Steward says is pining for her brother.

Ipswich Star:

"Eleia is pining for him. When you lay her down, she weeps and looks for him. They were really close to each other," he added.

The JustGiving page already shows more than £2,800 in donations, and the funds will go towards supporting the couple, who have seven children, over the Christmas period.

A wake for Jackson is planned for the Golden Hind pub in Nacton Road, where Ms Healy works, with the business offering the venue free of charge.

To donate to the fundraiser, visit: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ashley-steward