BABY Megan Allan is the beautiful daughter her father Ian will never see.

At 7lb 15oz, Megan Lianne was born at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, to Caroline Allan.

But Mrs Allan's delight is shadowed by tragedy.

The birth came just a week after Karl Layton was jailed for 15 months for the manslaughter of her husband.

Yesterday, Mrs Allan, cuddling her blue-eyed baby and three-year-old daughter Katie, said: "Ian loved Katie so much and I know he would have been so proud of Megan. I think she is just perfect.

"Both my children have given me a reason to carry on, even though we will all miss Ian so much."

Mr Allan, 34, was killed by a single punch to the head when soccer teammate Layton launched an attack on a Christmas night out on Newcastle's Quayside.

Mr Allan, a pharmaceutical sales rep, was out with other amateur players, from the St Theresa's Catholic Club side, in Heaton, Newcastle, when the tragedy happened in December last year.

He fell to the ground outside Bob Trollop's bar, hit his head and lost consciousness.

He lost his fight for life in Newcastle General Hospital's intensive care unit six days later, on December 28, after a second bronchial infection set in.

With the support of family and friends, Mrs Allan, who works at the hospital where Megan was born, is now looking to the future.

She said: "I have to carry on for the children's sake. Megan was born at 9.01pm on June 17 after an 18-hour labour. She has features from Ian's side of the family.

"I am not a revengeful person. Nothing will bring Ian back but I cannot forgive Layton for what he did."

Layton, 23, of Heaton, Newcastle, had initially denied manslaughter saying he threw a punch on the spur of the moment, but later changed his plea.