Little fighter Jessie Temple weighed just 1lb 12oz when she was delivered nine weeks early on July 14, after she'd stopped growing in her mum's womb.

Proud parents David Temple and Carmela Tassone are now delighted they've finally been able to take their precious bundle home after she spent almost three months in hospital.

"We're so glad she's home at last, she's absolutely perfect," said Miss Tassone, from Marine Approach, South Shields.

"At times we thought we might not have a baby at the end of the pregnancy and we were warned that she could be left with problems. But there's nothing wrong with her, she's as bright as a button."

Problems first began for Miss Tassone during her 20-week scan, the sonographer noticed the baby was small and ordered a blood test.

The test was inconclusive, and the 27-year-old was told to come back four weeks later.

However, when the couple, who've been together 10 years, returned for the second scan, they were taken into a room by doctors and told to prepare for the worst.

They were then sent the next day to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) for more tests.

The first-time mum said: "After the next lot of scans it was a relief to find the baby was actually healthy, despite her size.

"The problem was my placenta, I wasn't doing a very good job of feeding her and that's why she was so small."

The teaching assistant was told to stop working immediately by doctors as they battled to keep the baby inside her womb until she reached 30 weeks.

Miraculously, baby Jessie managed to hold on an extra week before it was discovered she hadn't grown in the last seven days and it was decided she should be delivered by Caesarean.

"She came out screaming" said Mr Temple, who was at his daughter's birth.

"We didn't know what to expect since we knew she'd be premature, so it was a shock to see her kicking her little legs and crying out loud."

Jessie was whisked away to the RVI's Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) but her parents were soon allowed to see her.

Mr Temple, an offshore electrician, said: "Her arms and legs were smaller than one of my fingers.

"The day after she was born we were allowed to hold her, but it wasn't the easiest experience, it was so scary, there were tubes everywhere and she was just so tiny."

After her birth, Jessie's weight dropped to 750g – little more than a bag of sugar. But she slowly started gaining weight and two weeks later she was transferred to SCBU at South Tyneside District Hospital.

There was a setback at six weeks when Jessie needed a blood transfusion after being diagnosed with anaemia, but she made a quick recovery.

And earlier this month, her mum and dad could finally take her home for the first time, as she now weighs in at 4lb 15oz.

Although she is still in premature baby clothing, doctors say Jessie will go on to lead a normal happy life and will soon catch up to other babies of her age.

Miss Tassone said: "It was amazing bringing her home at last, I just couldn't stop looking at her.

She added "She's our little fighter and as good as gold. We owe everything to the staff at both hospitals, they were amazing and we'd like to say a huge thank you."