A UNIQUE photographic exhibition of newborn babies that have had to fight to survive opens in East London this-evening. The special care baby charity Bliss is staging the exhibition at Spitalfields Old Market to mark its 30th anniversary

A UNIQUE photographic exhibition of newborn babies that have had to fight to survive opens in East London this-evening.

The special care baby charity Bliss is staging the exhibition at Spitalfields Old Market to mark its 30th anniversary.

It features babies born extremely prematurely or in need of special care over the past three decades.

Photojournalist Nicola Kurtz was given special access to University College Hospital's new Elizabeth Garrett Anderson wing where many of the images on display were taken of sick and premature babies.

"I have witnessed the fight for survival of eight babies," she said. "Most born at 23 or 24 weeks gestation, some a few days old, others are now nearly nine months."

Some 80,000 babies are born premature or sick in Britain every year, including 22,000 needing intensive care, some for a few days, others for many weeks or even months. The exhibition opens at 6pm and runs until Saturday (September 12) at Spitalfields Market in Commercial Street.

The Bliss charity's Family Support helpline is Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm, on freephone 0500 618140, or online here.