MIRACLE baby Ross Anderson was waking up to his first morning at home today after defying the odds and expert medical opinion.

Good fortune was with mum Mandy when she went into premature labour - she was at Worcester racecourse with a bet on a horse called Lucky Jim.

Baby Ross was born on Saturday, August 11, at just 28 weeks and only weighed 2lbs 10oz.

Now he has come home to Tunnel Hill, in Worcester, after two months in the special care unit at Birmingham City Hospital, weighing 4lbs 14oz, and proud parents Mandy and Carl are delighted.

Mandy, who had suffered previous miscarriages, was told there was only a 1 per cent chance of Ross' survival after she started losing amniotic fluid when she was 10 weeks pregnant, and then again at 16 weeks.

Doctors at Ronkswood and Birmingham City hospitals warned the 36-year-old she was likely to miscarry.

But Ross defied all medical expectations when he was born healthy, if early, stunning doctors by surviving.

His parents said they were thrilled beyond belief that Ross had been given the all-clear and they could now look after their son without monitors and equipment.

They have given him the middle name Lee in memory of Carl's brother, who died.

"He's just absolutely gorgeous," said Mandy. "I never dreamed this could happen and, now it has, I'm just so proud of my son. I want to tell the world what a little fighter he is - he really is a miracle baby.

"I keep telling complete strangers all about him at the bus stop. 'I've got a little boy and he's coming home!' We're so, so happy."

Mandy said her luck really came in the night that she went into labour.

"I was at Worcester races and I won my first ever race. I was so excited - then my waters broke when I was jumping around.

"The funny thing was the horse was called Lucky Jim, and I'd picked it because it's my father-in-law's name. It really was a lucky night for me.

"Now I feel like the luckiest woman in the world."