A CHAIRTY is calling on people to donate old out of circulation £5 notes to help save the lives of babies.

The old-style paper notes stopped being legal tender on May 5 and Babies in Buscot (BIBS) is appealing for anyone with a final fiver to help support sick newborns.

The funds will buy equipment to help the charity continue its work in the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Sarah Critchley, BIBS chief executive, said: “The old £5 note may well have gone out of circulation, but these notes are still worth every penny to our charity.

“We are currently raising funds to purchase four brand new, state-of-the-art hybrid Fabian NCPAP ventilators for Buscot Ward.

“Equipment that literally saves the lives of babies every single day, many of whom have been born too soon, and have under-developed lungs.

“Equipment like this does not come cheap, and we need to raise just under £40,000 to afford the units.

"“We would like to appeal to anyone who still has the old £5 notes to donate them to BIBS.

"They can be popped into one of many collecting tins we have at Customer Services and most checkouts in the Sainsbury’s Calcot store, as we are their local charity of the year.”

The Charity helps sick and premature newborns have the best start in life and provides support and information to parents with babies on the ward.

Visit www.justgiving.com/bibsbabies to make another contribution to the fund.