Two young women who tragically lost children during pregnancy have worked to ensure district landmarks light up pink and blue to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week.

The tribute will take place tonight and tomorrow following appeals to the council by friends Carys Groombridge, from Boughton, and Laura Carver, from Bekesbourne.

It will see Herne Bay Clock Tower and Whitstable Castle illuminated to support the charity, which bears the same name as the awareness week.

Carys and Laura both know the heartache of losing babies in pregnancy and have become even closer as a result of their experiences.

Postwoman Carys, 21, lost her son Toby while six months pregnant in 2017, while Laura, 24, lost Jacob after 36 weeks in July this year.

“Laura is my hairdresser so we were already friends,” said Carys, who has since had a baby daughter, Lily, who was born in March.

“I was pregnant with Lily at the same time as Laura was carrying Jacob so we were regularly in contact about how we were each doing.

“But then she messaged me to say she had lost her baby and I knew exactly what she would be going through.

“She came round and we just spent about three hours talking about it, which she later told me had really helped her.

“And talking about it and having someone understand is vital, which is what the charity offers and why we want to highlight it to other mums who have lost their babies.”

Baby Loss Awareness Day in the UK was initiated by a group of parents inspired by Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the United States.

The 2003 campaign saw the day expanded to a week, with events held across the UK.

Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, has taken a lead role in promoting the week as part of its work raising awareness of the issues surrounding pregnancy and baby loss in the UK.

As well as supporting the bereaved, other charities involved in Baby Loss Awareness Week work to prevent baby and infant deaths, pregnancy loss and maternal deaths.

Around the county landmarks were are being lit up pink and blue to raise awareness.

In Gravesend the clock tower in the centre of town is one, while Whitsable Castle has also taken part.

For more details visit www.babyloss-awareness.org or call 0203 897 6092.

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