A GRIEVING mum, whose dead baby's memorial plaque was stolen, now has a new one - thanks to the Advertiser/Messenger.

Emma Swindon, of Willow Road, Bromsgrove, was heartbroken when she discovered that the plaque dedicated to her son, Derian, who died when he was only 37 minutes old, was gone from under a sapling in the town's cemetery.

She reported the incident to police and an article appeared in the Advertiser/Messenger appealing for witnesses.

After reading the story Anjella Underwood, from the Rockhill area, was so moved she decided to help. She phoned us and we put her in touch with police.

Anjella, who is the sales and marketing manager for Halesowen-based English Enamels Ltd, said: "When I read the story in the Advertiser/Messenger I was really upset, especially as it was for a baby. I wanted to help and get a new plaque for Emma.

"My company, with Emma's input, has now designed a new bigger plaque."

Last Wednesday, Rev Nigel Marns, of St John's Church, blessed the plaque.

In June 2002 Emma, a former Catshill resident, gave birth to Derian at 35 weeks when she lived in Surrey. The baby only lived for 37 minutes and a post mortem did not find a cause of death.

When Emma, who now has a 20-month-old son, moved back to Bromsgrove her baby's ashes remained in Surrey. She wanted a special place to remember her son by, so put the plaque and sapling in the cemetery.

"The plaque was from the hospital, so it held great sentiment and I will never be able to replace that," she said. "But I'm really pleased with the new one, it is so nice that something good has come out of something horrible."