TWO twins whose early birth was prompted by David Beckham's penalty miss in the European Championships last year are celebrating their first birthday.

Staff at Bishop Auckland Hospital, County Durham, named Thomas and Joshua Wraith "the Beckham twins" after the shock of the England star's missed penalty against Turkey last year sent their mother, Linsey, into premature labour.

Mrs Wraith, 38, from Escomb Road, Bishop Auckland, said: "I was only 31 weeks' pregnant and I was absolutely huge. We had a little scare the week before, but they had let me out of hospital in time for the England match.

"We had all sat down to watch the match and David Beckham stepped up to take the penalty. We all shouted 'oh' and then suddenly I was in labour. It is lucky we live across the road from the hospital, otherwise I would never have made it. I nearly had Thomas in the car park."

Mrs Wraith and her husband, Andrew, 30, are keen Newcastle fans and had been looking forward to the England match against Turkey.

She said: "I had given birth to both of them with ten minutes to go before the game finished, but they would not let me watch the end.''

The couple are planning a big celebration for the twins' first birthday, with an England cake and matching England strips.

The party will have to wait until tomorrow, because the boys' parents and brothers, Sam and Matthew, are determined to watch the full game when England play Wales today. Mrs Wraith said: "My husband has made me promise that there will be no interruptions and we are hoping to watch the full match this time."