A MIDWIFE at Burnley General Hospital has been declared the best in the North West after delivering a baby who was not breathing and helping to save the youngster's life.

Clare Monaghan has been nominated in the Gift of Life category in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's Pride of East Lancashire awards.

She was nominated by Louise Morgan, 31, of Blackburn Road, Simonstone.

In August last year, Louise went into labour with her second child.

She had already opted for a home birth but her usual midwife was off duty, so Clare Monaghan, a midwife from Burnley General, arrived to help.

When Beth was born not breathing, Clare, from Clitheroe, immediately began to resuscitate her. Beth, now one, is a happy, healthy baby and her mum believes it is all thanks to the care she received from Clare.

Louise said: "Clare walked in as a total stranger but she was really nice and easy to talk to.

"She was calming and reassuring all the way through the labour, taking in her stride a panicking husband, a stressed-out woman and a sleeping, older child.

"Our baby had gone into trauma but Clare quietly encouraged us to hurry without letting the full impact of what was wrong panic us.

"I think it's good that she didn't really let us know there was a problem because it meant we didn't panic, which is definitely what we would have done.

"When baby Beth was born not breathing she stepped in and acted so fast we hardly had time to realise what was wrong.

"I think Clare was so good to remain completely calm because it's not a common situation, especially because I was having a home birth, so it wasn't like she could just call for help.

"She definitely saved Beth's life and I'm glad to get this chance to thank her properly."

Clare also recently won £250 and the bronze award in the Mamas and Papas Midwife of the Year awards.