AFTER her own daughter suffered respiratory problems at birth Melksham mother Hayley Spencer has thrown a Batman inspired fundraiser for the Bath RUH maternity and neonatal units.

Town councillor Spencer, 30, gave birth to her daughter Robyn Illman 14 months ago at the RUH but was petrified to find her new born had to stay for a week in the neonatal unit due to breathing complications.

To say thank you to the staff, she decided to put on a black tie Batman themed fundraiser at the assembly hall on Saturday (Apr 2), which raised £761.05.

Cllr Spencer, who also has a 10-year-old stepdaughter Mary with partner Chailey Illman, said: “When my daughter was born we had a few complications and she spent a week in the Bath RUH neonatal unit.

“While we were there we knew we would have to do something to say thank you to all the people that helped me.

“We also have friends that have been there and experienced the same thing and they were there on the night so it was good that they could contribute to it all.

“Robyn had some breathing problems and she was starved of oxygen and they needed to make sure that her lungs were clear.

“When she came home she was 100% healthy so this was basically just a thank you for everything that they did for her.”

The three hour fundraiser began as a black tie ball presented by Bruce Wayne himself but it soon turned to anarchy when a host of DC Comic villains swarmed the stage and a rock concert ensued.

More than 150 people attended the night, which saw The Riddler, Joker and Penguin descend on Melksham Assembly Hall, before Batman saved the day arresting the villains alongside Police Commissioner Gordon.

Cllr Spencer added: “The atmosphere was amazing, really great. We made sure that everyone was dressed properly and it was a genuine active theatre show.

“All the actors were interacting with the audience. At the end the Joker got a little restless and took one of the waitresses hostage.

“Police Commissioner Gordon was locked to the chair all night and we had a bat signal made. It was incredible.”