Bereaved parents can get a professional photo to remember babies who die near birth thanks to a new charity, the first of its kind in the UK.

Imelda Bell, a professional photographer who lives in Kingswood, is now available to take free remembrance photos at Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Medway Maritime Hospitals.

She is working with Remember My Baby, a newly registered charity which sees professional photographers take and digitally improve images of children who die before, during or shortly after birth.

The initiative works in partnership with NHS Trusts across the country and has a deep meaning for Mrs Bell, who lost her brother Andrew when she was a child.

“When I was six my mother lost a baby, he died when he was six days old,” she said.

“He had a heart defect and I never got to see him.

“Now when I think about it I think having a picture of him would be so important.

Video: Graham Stothard interviews Imelda Bell. Warning, these poignant images may be upsetting to some people

“It’s not necessarily something that’s pleasant to do but if I can create something important for families it would be very worthwhile.”

When families use the service they will receive high resolution digital images on a disc or USB memory stick to print themselves.

If requested, the pictures can be digitally retouched in a tasteful way to remove objects such as tubing to give families a picture of their child looking as natural as possible.

According to the NHS 4,000 babies are stillborn each year, which is one for every 200 births.

The most recent government statistics on infant mortality – a child less than a year old – add that there are four deaths per 1,000 live births in England and Wales.

The service is looking for more photographers.

For more information visit the Remember my Baby website or email Mrs Bell on: imeldawbell@gmail.com