MUM Lucy Newcombe has praised Devizes Maternity Unit and its staff in enabling her to have a water birth. Mrs Newcombe, of Alma Terrace, Calne, was left high and dry when the birthing pool at Chippenham Maternity Unit was closed due to a leak.

She found out just three days before she was due to give birth in December.

Mrs Newcombe, who has another child, two-year-old Charlotte, said: "I had set my heart on a water birth so I was devastated to learn that the pool at Chippenham was closed.

"I learned that there is a birthing pool at Devizes so I called them and asked if I could go there and the staff said we would love to have you."

Mrs Newcombe, 29, and her husband, John, visited the maternity unit in Devizes to have a look round.

They returned on December 22 when Mrs Newcombe gave birth to Josephine in the birthing pool. Mrs Newcombe, a marketing manager, said: "The birth was great and was what I wanted. The midwives at Devizes are fantastic."

Her first child was due to be born at Chippenham but for medical reasons Mrs Newcombe was taken to Bath's Royal United Hospital for the birth.

She said: "When you are in a big hospital like the RUH you are very much part of a factory line. You are in and out quickly. In a smaller unit there is a limited number of births and you do feel special. You also have time to bond with your child."

Mrs Newcombe said women would be denied choice if the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Health Care Trust went ahead with proposals to shut the maternity units at Devizes and Malmesbury.

"These small maternity units are vital and should not be closed," she said.