TINY Tess Gibbs was born three months premature and weighed less than a bag of sugar at only 1lb and 8oz.

She spent the first 100 days, since her birth on January 7, 2015, fighting for her life. Staff at Southmead Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit cared for her until she had was able to go home.

Her grandfather, Brian Tocknell, from Dursley, said: “Tess was very, very small when she was born. She could fit into the palm of my hand.

“She was kept in an incubator during the early stages where someone looked after her 24 hours a day.”

Her parents, Laura and Luke, were there constantly. Brian, who is Laura’s father, came to the hospital as ‘much as he could’.

He said: “By the very nature of it – it was an uncertain time. Tess was in a very dangerous condition and we were all extremely worried.”

Brian describes the ‘tremendous relief’ and joy he felt when Tess - his first grandchild, could eventually come home.

“She is one of the lucky ones - now a fit, healthy, happy, young toddler. You'd never believe she had the start she did. Thankfully it has not affected her developmentally or physically and she's absolutely thriving.

“We would like to say thank you for the incredible care that Tess received whilst in Southmead NICU.”

Tess, who is now 20 months old, lives only half a mile away from her grandparents in the village of Coaley where she continues to thrive.

Brian describes what Tess is like today: “She is a very strong character – possibly due to what she has had to put up with. She’s playful and has a huge mass of blonde hair.”

To raise money for the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) the Dursley Male Voice Choir – of which Brian is chairman – are hosting a special music concert.

Brian said: “We wanted to do something to say thank you. The choir are happy to support this and to raise money for such a good cause.”

Along with another 70 members of the choir, Brian has prepared a selection of popular, classical and contemporary music for the event. Songs will include Everley Brothers’ numbers, a medley from Les Miserables, and folk songs aplenty.

The 69-year-old added: “We’ve also got a couple of special soloist guests joining us. These include Mark Llewelyn Evans who has a magnificent baritone voice, and the wonderful Soprano Victoria Joyce.

“Everyone is welcome. I can’t think of a better way to spend an autumn afternoon than listening to some wonderful live singing, and helping to raise money to help other premature babies like Tess.”

The concert entitled ‘Songs for NICU’ will take place on Sunday October 16 at 3pm at St George’s Concert Hall, Bristol. Tickets are £15 and £10 (plus fees) and are available from St George’s box office, or via the website: http://www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/event/songs-for-nicu/.