LITTLE Sophie Todd became the fifth generation of her family when she was born exactly100 years after her oldest living relative.

Sophie was born on the day her great-great-great aunt Elizabeth Wellburn was celebrating her 100th birthday on the other side of the world.

She emigrated to Western Australia in the 1920s to escape unemployment in her native Sunderland.

As she toasted her continuing good health on her birthday last week she had no idea her great-great niece Joanne Todd was giving birth thousands of miles away on Wearside.

Joanne, 28, went into labour three days before but Sophie hung on to make her arrival on Elizabeth's birthday.

Joanne, of Washington, near Sunderland, said: "I can't believe she ended up being born on the same day as Liz's birthday. It's an amazing coincidence."

Sophie's proud great gran Ethel Sherrif, 74, Elizabeth's niece, said: "Sophie is absolutely beautiful -she must have waited for the 12th."

The five generations of the family are Elizabeth, Ethel, Ethel's son Joseph, 50, Joanne and Sophie.

Doting grandfather Joseph said: "It is amazing that the fifth generation of the family was born 100 years to the day after the oldest surviving family member.

"We are going to e-mail Elizabeth and her family in Australia with pictures of the baby.

The Sherrif family had been considering flying to Australia for Elizabeth's big day but had to abandon the plan because Joanne was so close to giving birth.