A couple whose newborn baby died following complications during labour are lighting up Maldon in pink and blue to raise awareness of baby loss among residents.

This is the second year that Dave and Abby Ridgewell will create a special display in the window of estate agents' William H Brown on Maldon High Street - where Dave, 37, works as a manager - for Baby Loss Awareness Week.

The parents are honouring their son Max, who died at a day old in November 2019 following a full-term pregnancy after Abby, 33, suffered complications during childbirth.

Abby said: "It's just giving people the chance to talk about it because the pain doesn't go away no matter how long ago it was.

"You still long for that baby that you planned for, that you had hoped to bring home."

Max was born in Broomfield Hospital's Blossom suite - the bereavement suite on the hospital's maternity ward.

"It's such an important place for us," Abby said.

"It was our own little part of the hospital away from everyone else where our family could be."

The couple, who are also parents to two other children, displayed over 150 ribbons with the names of babies lost in pregnancy or soon after birth in the window of William H Brown last year.

The babies honoured in the display included some who had been born in the Blossom suite.

All Saints' Church, Moot Hall and other businesses across the High Street also participated.

"We're doing it again this year to give families a chance to talk about their babies," Abby said.

She hopes that it will start conversations in Maldon about baby loss, which affects one in four pregnancies, and break taboo surrounding the subject.

"Miscarriage is really common," Abby said. "It's talked about but it's a taboo subject.

"From our displays, we discovered that there are a lot of people who we know that have gone through baby loss of some kind, and we didn't even know about it until we talked about our loss.

"We had the names of babies born in the 80s and 90s last year, and parents saying that it had made them think about it and talk about it more.

"It gives people that chance to open up a little bit and talk about it."

Baby Loss Awareness Week supports grieving parents and unites them with families across the world to pay tribute to their babies and get people talking.

Businesses, landmarks and homes across the country will light up in pink and blue for the week, which takes place from 9 to 15 October.

Dave and Abby already have 145 names for their display this year, which will include hearts instead of ribbons to pay tribute to each baby.

"A lot of businesses have joined in again this year and are going to be lighting up their window displays in pink and blue for the week," Abby said.

"We'll be lighting up All Saints' Church and Moot Hall in pink and blue lights.

"Hopefully, it will get people talking again."

Anyone who would like their baby's name to be included in the display can go into William H Brown, at 3 High Street, to be added.

There will also be a sign in the window on the week to encourage people to add their baby's name to the display.

Abby said: "Even if it's just for the last day - people can still add names as the week goes on."

To find support if you have experienced baby loss, more information on how to get involved in raising awareness and to donate, visit Baby Loss Awareness Week's website using the link here.