An Aberdeenshire couple whose baby daughter has a hole in her heart are hoping to raise money for treatment abroad.

When 15-week old Willow was born Gina and David Scanlon knew she would have a hole in her heart, but they were not prepared for the news that she would have the life-limiting condition Edwards syndrome.

The Scanlons say they were told a heart operation on a baby with Edwards syndrome is not usual practice, but are urging doctors to review Willow's individual case.

"It was shattering because we thought her heart condition was worse, and then we found out it was OK and she was doing really well in hospital - we thought we'd dodged a bullet," Mr Scanlon said.

"But when we found out she had Edwards syndrome they said they wouldn't be operating on Willow, and that it would just be palliative care from here on in."

Mrs Scanlon said: "We wouldn't put her through extra unnecessary suffering - we believe her getting the operation would prolong her life and make her much happier."

Their local MP, David Duguid, has written to NHS chiefs in both Scotland and England to highlight the case.

He said: "I would like to see every patient treated on a case by case basis, so if I had something wrong with my leg I wouldn't want the response to be amputation below the knee every time.

"I think that's what the family want in Willow's case - to look at this as Willow and not just a one off statistic.

"When this has happened in the past the survivability hasn't been high, but in most of those cases the child wouldn't have survived birth or long after birth.

"In Willow's case, she has already survived for 14 weeks and she's developing well."

The family have already launched an online campaign to pay for surgery abroad if it is turned down in the UK.

NHS Grampian say they cannot comment on individual cases.

Mr Scanlon added: "None of us really know how long we've got - they say you should try and live every day like it's your last, and I think there's a lesson in that for everybody.

"That's the gift that she's given us - she's given us love and an appreciation for every single day that we have together."