A couple due to become parents tomorrow are pleading: "Don't take our baby away from us."

Penny and Stephen Greenwood are like any other nervous parents-to-be, counting the hours to the event. But the pregnancy which should have been a time of joy, has been overshadowed.

Both suffer from epilepsy and fear their baby may be handed over to foster parents.

Bradford Social Services officials said an assessment is set to be carried out to decide whether the child can be safely cared for in their home.

But the defiant Greenwoods say they can take care of their child and have vowed to fight Bradford Council.

"We are saying to them, don't take our baby away," said Penny, who will be 40 on Friday.

"We know we can manage, we know it is going to be very demanding, just like it is for any other parents with a new child, but we know we can do it.''

Penny has suffered from epilepsy since she was 11 and has 'petit mal', or milder fits, at most once a day which results in her fingers shaking or legs and arms stiffening for perhaps 20 seconds.

Her 38-year-old husband, who is a self-employed mortgage consultant, has been epileptic since birth and used to suffer from serious fits as often as every three days which could result in him losing consciousness for hours.

However, in January 1996 he underwent an operation to remove part of his brain causing the epilepsy and since then suffers from milder fits, as many as 10 days apart, which are usually restricted to when he is asleep.

Penny and Stephen married four years ago after meeting in a centre for people with epilepsy. They live independently in Woodside and both take medication to control their condition. After living with a condition like epilepsy for so long, the couple say they can generally detect if a fit is coming on and know they could protect their baby.

The couple have already had to give up one son, Michael Leslie, who has just celebrated his fourth birthday.

The youngster, who was born before Stephen's life-changing operation, has been fostered by his sister, Christine.

Mike Stow, assistant director of Social Services, said: "There are concerns for the future care of the unborn baby. These stem from both Mr and Mrs Greenwood's health needs and their ability to provide appropriate care for their child.

"Our concerns have been discussed with them and it is proposed assessment is undertaken to decide whether the child can be safely cared for in their home.

"As a local authority we have a duty to give priority to the needs of children and to find the most appropriate way for these to be addressed.

"If necessary, the matter will be placed before a court for a decision.''

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