A BABY who was born three months prematurely while his parents were on holiday in Benidorm is back in Bolton.

Little Freddie Jackson was born in April as his mum and dad, Karla Hornby and Jordan Jackson, enjoyed a last holiday before the planned birth of their baby.

The couple were relaxing in the Spanish sun when suddenly Ms Hornby’s waters broke and the terrified mother was taken into hospital for an emergency caesarean section.

Freddie weighed just two pounds when he was born and his parents faced a nervous wait to see if he would be okay.

Since that point he has continued to get stronger and has now beaten the odds and been able to travel home ahead of schedule.

The family arrived home in a private plane, with Freddie kept in a special incubator during the journey.

He is now continuing to recover in the Royal Bolton Hospital where he is receiving assisted feeds.

Ms Hornby said she is delighted to have been reacquainted with friends and family, including her daughter, eight-year old Charlie.

She said: “It feels brilliant to be back in Bolton — it feels like a massive weight has been lifted.

“It is so nice to have our family all around us and to have Charlie home with us.

“We had an emotional reunion — we didn’t tell anyone what day we would be coming back so that we could surprise Charlie.”

The 28-year-old said she is still struggling to come to terms with what her family has been through over the past six weeks.

She said: “When I think of everything that has happened it just feels surreal, like it has happened to someone else — it has been a crazy, emotional rollercoaster for us.”

The family said they continue to be grateful for the outpouring of support they received from friends, family and complete strangers during their difficult time in Spain.

Ms Hornby added: “Just knowing that people were thinking about us and that we weren’t forgotten about was a lovely feeling.

“Now I am just looking forward to Freddie coming home so we can settle in and be a proper family — and I want to be able to show him off too.”