A department at under-threat St Helier Hospital has been handed a bumper £3,000 boost.

Donations totalling £3,170 were recently given to the hospital's neonatal department by three benefactors - a couple whose premature baby was cared for at the unit, two members of a Wimbledon law firm whose children were treated there and a women's business networking group.

The donations arrive as St Helier faces increasing speculation over its future after GPs voted to let a plan to shut its A&E and maternity departments go to consultation.

New parents Lucy and Ben Huxley donated £1,750 to the unit after Mr Huxley made an application for a grant to his employers, First Great Western.

The couple's twins George and Clarissa were two months premature and needed treatment at the hospital last year.

There were no beds in Peterborough which meant they had to come to St Helier.

Mrs Huxley said: "It was a really hard time for us anyway, but being so far from home made it that bit more difficult. 

"But what matters is that George and Clarissa got the treatment that they needed, the staff were incredible and we’re all doing really well now. 

"We are very grateful for the care we received at St Helier."

Two members of Wimbledon law firm Ashworths had their sons treated at the unit.

Becky Duggan's son Alfie was treated there in 2011 while Diana Greenham's son Zack stayed there in 2006.

The pair presented the unit with a cheque for £1,100.

Business networking organisation Fabulous Women raised £518 for the unit when it held an event featuring Sutton-based entertainer Theo the Magician earlier this year.

Carolyn Croucher, the hospital's joint clinical director for women's and children's services, said: "We are not quite sure what we’ll put the money to at the moment, but every penny will be spent on making sure that the newborns who are treated here continue to receive the very best of care."