A campaign calling for the registration of stillborn babies younger than 24 weeks is gaining momentum after an emotional TV storyline. It is being backed by a mother who tells how her baby was saved 18 years ago

Gerry Warren

With the help of the doctors and nurses, Jacob pulled through, but I feel so terribly sad for those parents whose premature babies arrive stillborn before that 24-week time limit.”

The issue has hit headlines in recent weeks following a dramatic storyline in Coronation Street involving Michelle Connor, played by Kym Marsh.

In the soap, her character has just discovered that her premature stillborn baby will not be registered.

It has proved emotionally challenging for the actor, who lost her son, Archie, in 2009 after he was born at 21 weeks.

She is now pressing for a change in the law, which states that parents cannot be given a birth certificate if a baby is stillborn before 24 weeks.

Previously, a petition to force a rethink was launched