Paula Aspinall and Peter have become the first British couple to get the umbilical cord of their new born baby frozen as a "potential lifesaver".
The couple has paid as much as ?2,000, an investment which will act as a unique insurance policy for the whole family, including their 3 year old daughter Megan and baby Daniel himself.

Up until now, parents have been able to store blood from the umbilical cord, which contains stem cells. These cells have the potential to treatment blood conditions such as leukemia and various other rare cancers. A firm called Future Health Technologies is now offering to store the complete umbilical cord, in addition to the stem cells.

Experts are now hoping that, in addition to treating blood disorders, stem cells and the umbilical cord can one day used as an effective treatment for disorders of muscles, bones and tendons.

Blood collected from umbilical cords has been saved and used by the NHS since 1996. Parents have the option of donating stem cells to banks which can be used in treating NHS patients in a range of diseases.