ALTHOUGH Darren Tucker was 21 in April, he celebrated his 21st birthday in June, the actual month he should have been born 21 years ago.

Darren, who lives in Malpas, asked all his friends for donations to be given to the special care baby unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital instead of giving him presents.

He raised an amazing £700 and was delighted to have the opportunity recently to present the cheque to staff on the unit and to say ‘thanks’ for all the wonderful work the medical team did for him 21 years ago.

He visited the unit with his proud mum and dad.

Darren was born 10 weeks early, weighing just 3lb 11oz with loads of hair and was wrapped in tin foil, which was the procedure for premature babies at the time.

Darren recently graduated from Brighton University and is now training to become an auctioneer and valuer at Byrne’s Auctioneers in Saltney.