A HAMPSHIRE baby who was smaller than a packet of biscuits when he was born four months premature is preparing to come home for the first time after an extraordinary battle for survival.

Doctors at the Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton were convinced that Donna Taylor was miscarrying when she went into labour 16 weeks early.

However Matthew came out kicking and screaming and has been fighting for his life ever since.

Now, a year on, the family is preparing for a moment doctors warned they might never see - his homecoming.

Donna's first son, Aaron, was born two-and-a-half months early in October 2004 but after spending time in Southampton General's neonatal intensive care unit he was allowed home.

In September 2005 Donna fell pregnant with Matthew and history was to repeat itself.