DELIVERING her own grandchild was the experience of a lifetime for one Trowbridge midwife at the weekend.

Beryl Orchard, 52, turned her skills to delivering her first granddaughter just a day after posing happily for photographs at her only daughter's wedding.

Mrs Orchard, of Church Acre, Bradford on Avon, said: "It was amazing timing. The baby was due on the same day as the wedding and we all just hoped the baby would wait until afterwards. You can plan a wedding but you can't plan when a baby will arrive.

"I have probably delivered about 1,000 babies but I never thought I would get to deliver my own grandchild. It was just wonderful."

The proud grandmother, who has been a midwife for 29 years, had been keen to do the honours ever since her son William, 20, and his girlfriend Jay Palmer, 18, announced they were expecting a baby, and the couple were glad to have her help.

Miss Palmer, who is studying travel and tourism at Wiltshire College Trowbridge, said: "It was a bit strange having her there but I think it was better because I was more relaxed."

The whole family had been keeping their fingers crossed that the baby would not arrive on her due date and, if possible, would arrive the day after.

On Saturday Mrs Orchard's daughter Alice married Joe Ralli at St Peter's Church, Monkton Farleigh. The ushers included the bride's brothers, father-to-be William, who works at Bradfords Building Supplies in Trowbridge, and Thomas, 25.

The following day it was all go again as Miss Palmer gave birth to 7lb 14oz Bella Emma Ivy Orchard - who arrived in time for her uncle Thomas, who had to return to his Liverpool home on Monday, and her aunt Alice, who left for her honeymoon on Monday, to greet her.