UP to 250 babies born at a Somerset hospital will be presented with a birthday gift box from a county firm celebrating its twentieth anniversary in October.

Bridgwater-based Hippychick, a specialist in baby and toddler gear, will share its birthday celebrations with every baby born at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital in October, the month Hippychick was first incorporated 20 years ago.

The gift box, worth £50, includes two of Hippychick’s signature products – a cotton fleece blanket and a hooded baby bath towel - as well as a 25% discount voucher.

Hippychick will also be fund raising via its website to cover the cost of a new Medicare Cot for the maternity unit by donating 10% of the profits on every sale of its Hippychick-branded portfolio through its website during its anniversary month.

Hippychick has forged a close connection with Musgrove in its lifetime, both personally and professionally.

Three years ago, the company took part in the £50 challenge and raised £1,500 for the Love Musgrove Scanner Appeal.

Julia Minchin, founder and managing director of Hippychick, has also made use of the scanner unit for personal reasons on several occasions, along with her husband Jeremy.

"We’re a really active family and Musgrove has literally saved our lives through the years after various accidents involving horses and paragliders, so it’s really close to our hearts," she said.

"And one of our longest standing employees, Scott Bateman and his partner, are looking forward to the birth of their first child under the care of Musgrove Maternity Unit in October.

"Partnering with Musgrove is a perfect match for us during our special year, given that they, like us, put babies at the heart of everything they do.

"This is our payback time as well as a great way to celebrate all Musgrove babies who will be born during our very special anniversary month."

Matron Nicola Van-Eerde, from Musgrove Park Hospital’s Maternity Unit, welcomed the donation.

"I am delighted that Hippychick has chosen to support us as part of their birthday celebrations," she said.

"They kindly supported our successful MRI scanner appeal and their birthday fundraising will support the campaign for a new Medicare cot for our patients.

"We are always very grateful for the support we receive, and it is extra special when it comes from our local community and those who have had Musgrove Babies and want to give something back."

You can get involved with the Musgrove Babies Appeal in a number of ways; take part in a fundraising challenge, organise your own event or make a donation via https://www.lovemusgrove.org.uk/musgrove-babies or you can text BABIES, followed by your donation amount, to 70085 to donate.