Writer, actor and co-creator of ‘The Office’, Stephen Merchant is supporting an ambitious initiative to produce a mosaic picture of a thousand babies born at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Stephen, who was born at the Hospital in the 1970s, is donating a picture of himself as a baby to be added to hundreds of other photos which will form a two-metre wide mosaic for the maternity unit.

The “Thousand Smiles” initiative has been created by the Hospital’s Shine together charity which is also raising funds for the maternity department.

Head of Fundraising at the Hospital Trevor Reid said, “To have Stephen’s support for the Thousand Smiles mosaic is fantastic news. We are delighted to be able to include his baby photo with the hundreds of others we are receiving.”

Stephen said, “This is a great way to celebrate being part of the history of Southmead Hospital, and to raise awareness of the fantastic work of the maternity unit.”

The project is also being supported by two other members of the Merchant family. Stephen’s Dad Ron and his sister Alexandra who were both born at the hospital are sending in their baby photographs to be featured on the mosaic.

The Hospital charity is urging anyone who was born at Southmead to support the project and send in their photographs.

Trevor added, “We would love to hear from anyone, young or old, who was born at Southmead or has had a baby at our hospital. The mosaic will be a wonderful permanent tribute to the thousands of babies born in our maternity unit and families we are connected to across Bristol.”

Photos already donated to the Thousand Smiles mosaic range from babies who are just a few days old, through to pictures from the 1940s.

Everyone who submits a picture will receive a memento print of the mosaic. People are also encouraged to make a donation to the maternity unit to help raise funds to create a new family room for babies, Mums and Dads.

To send in your photo online simply click here!