LITTLE beauty Leah Melody came into the world on Saturday, at Sharoe Green Hospital, in Fulwood, weighing a healthy 8lb 5oz.

Dad Andrew O'Condell, a 23-year-old medic currently caring for Iraqi prisoners of war in Kuwait, has already been told the good news via a special message through army chiefs but he has yet to see his newborn daughter.

A text message to his wife Leanne, 21, shortly after their daughter's birth sums up Andrew's joy. "I love you", it said, "give my little girl hugs and kisses".

Proud mum Leanne, of Oxley Road, said: "Leah is our little princess.

"It's a difficult time now and I don't know when Andrew will be able to come home. But Leah is Andrew's flesh and I can hold her."

Baby Leah is the couple's first child and they chose her name before Andrew flew out to the Gulf as a member of 5 General Support Regiment, based at Fulwood Barracks, Preston, five weeks ago.

He had planned to be at his wife's side during Leah's birth but was called up for service in Iraq before she was born.

Instead Leanne, who was in labour for five hours, had to rely on her mother Beverly Williams, sister Natasha Stewart and three friends, to help her through her ordeal.

But, Leanne, who is studying for a degree in social work at The University of Central Lancashire, said: "The pain was all worth it. I'm over the moon.

"I'm missing Andrew very much, although I'm getting lots of support from family and friends. I'm on a high and have lots of energy."

Leanne, who's from Luton, met husband Andrew, from Manchester, in Preston, and the couple married last year. Now she is waiting for the day her husband comes home. She said she can't wait for the moment he holds his daughter for the very first time.

"I am supporting our boys and they seem to be getting on with it, but I hope he comes home soon," Leanne said.

In the meantime, the young mother has her hands full with a camera crew in her house who are filming a programme called 'Baby Whisperer' for the Discovery Health channel.

Leanne said: "This is about an American health guru who is guiding me on how to raise my baby. She advises on feeding and even how to introduce our Staffordshire bull terrier, Sirius, to Leah.

"It's fascinating and I'm picking up lots of tips. I wanted to get as much memorabilia together as possible, like videos and pictures, so that Andrew can see what Leah was like when she was newborn."