A MOTHER-of-five who unexpectedly went into labour has given birth in the kitchen of her home - for the second time in three years.

Lightning struck twice for Haidi Mellish at her home, in South Shields.

Baby Anna was a day overdue when Haidi, without warning, found herself giving birth to her fifth child.

Her husband, Paul, a firefighter, was asleep upstairs.

"I shouted for about ten minutes before he woke up," said Haidi.

"When he came down he said nothing. It was just pure shock. He went white then panicked, trying to find the number of the hospital and my mother, then he got piles of blankets and towels to keep us warm."

It was the second time Haidi has had to deliver her own child. Three years ago, she went into labour with son, Jon, while waiting for a taxi to take her to hospital.

"It was just him and me, and this time it was just her and me. I'm getting quite good at delivering them," said Haidi.

"It's a shock, but at the same time I'd rather have a couple of minutes of that than hours of labour."

History repeated itself again, when the same midwife called to check up on Haidi and the baby before they were taken to hospital.

Haidi is adamant that Anna is the last. "That's it, definitely," she said.