HISTORY repeated itself in more ways than one when a North-East woman went into labour early on New Year’s Day.

When Steph Johnson gave birth to a baby boy on January 1, it was 25 years to the day since her own mother gave birth to her.

And, like her own mother, Miss Johnson gave birth to her baby in dramatic circumstances.

Miss Johnson gave birth in the back of the ambulance outside her Darlington home, whereas on January 1, 1986, her mother, Denise Fishlock, had had to be airlifted to hospital when she went into labour but was trapped in her house by snow.

Yesterday, Miss Johnson and her partner, Phillip Harber, and their baby, Kyle Michael, were looking forward to returning to their home in White Hart Crescent, in the Red Hall area of Darlington.

Baby Kyle was due on December 29, but was two days late, much like his mother, who was due to be born on December 22.

He has three sisters, Emily, nine, Amelia, four, and Angel, two.

Miss Johnson said she was woken by pains at about 4.30am and called for an ambulance.

However, there was not enough time to get her to the hospital and Kyle was born, weighing 8lb 8oz, shortly before 7am.

Miss Johnson said: “I didn’t realise the significance of the date at the time as I was just too shocked – I was oblivious to it all.

“The paramedics just said that the head was showing and I’d have to have it there.

“I didn’t expect it to be so quick. I was in labour for a long time with my youngest daughter.”

The couple thanked the paramedics for their role in bringing Kyle into the world.

Mr Harber said: “One of the paramedics told me it was only the second delivery he had ever done.

“He said it was the highlight of his day. He was so cheerful. I was just crying my eyes out, I was so happy. I’ve always wanted a son.

“Next year’s going to be a big birthday party and new year all rolled into one.

“It’s going to be an expensive Christmas.”

In 1986, Mrs Fishlock was trapped in her home in Loftus, east Cleveland, by snow and had to be taken by RAF helicopter to hospital to give birth to Steph.

She said: “It’s like history repeating itself. I’d been joking with Steph that she was going to have the baby on New Year and Steph said she was all right.

“Then I got a phone call in the middle of the night to say that she’d gone into labour. I couldn’t believe it.”