MATERNITY UNIT: KATE Kirkham's dream of a home delivery came true with the birth of her second child.

Ryan finally came into the world on January 2, two weeks after he was due, weighing 8lb 14oz. Kate, 23, of Platts Close, was in labour for two hours and had two midwives to assist her birth.

She said: "It went really well. I was just relived when the time came because he was so late."

Kate wanted to have her first child Jamie at home as well but couldn't because she had gestational diabetes so he had to be induced. She said: "It was a good experience but I wanted to be more relaxed the second time. They have visiting hours at the hospital and I didn't wanted to be separated from my husband.

"I just wanted to be fully in control of what happened by giving birth in my own environment with people I know around me. I didn't want a medicalised birth."

Dad Alan, 25, said: "I was just really excited because we had been waiting for so long."