HOUSEWIFE Cheryl McGarry turned midwife when her younger sister Natalie went into labour.

Cheryl (37), of Cunningham Drive, Unsworth, went into action when Natalie Ridehalgh (21) telephoned her after going into labour on Friday morning (Aug 10).

But instead of going round to Natalie's home as arranged to look after her other two children, aged two and four, Cheryl ended up delivering her niece, Brooke!

Said mum-of-two Cheryl: "Natalie phoned me to look after the children while she went to hospital but by the time I arrived her waters had broken and there was no time."

"I couldn't go anywhere," added Natalie, of Hazel Avenue, Bury, "and Brooke followed straight after Cheryl arrived.

"She was fantastic! I couldn't have done it without her. My husband Mark was on the phone getting instructions and Cheryl was delivering Brooke. She caught her head and then she was here."

Recovering from her experience, Cheryl said: "I've never done anything like this before in my life! I didn't have time to think about about what I was doing."

Mother and baby are both doing fine and Natalie said she thinks Cheryl's involvement in Brooke's birth has created a special bond between them both.

She said: "I think this has brought us all closer as a family. Cheryl has been coming down a lot to see Brooke. She wasn't due until Sunday (Aug19) and I panicked a bit while it was happening, But I wouldn't have it any other way."