A POLICEWOMAN'S lot is a nappy one for Sgt Debbie Barlow.

The Leigh area officer can be forgiven for taking the weight off her feet -- because she is six months pregnant and part of an amazing baby boom at Wigan police.

An unbelievable 27 staff or their partners have either already given birth or become pregnant in the space of a year.

The usual average is three babies a year -- but since August five babies have been born, including two to Leigh police constables Helen Doyle and Kate Gaskell, and 10 are due between May and August.

Debbie said: "You have to be careful where you sit. It's contagious! "

She is married to fellow policeman Ian and already has one son aged six, called Lee.

Debbie, who lives in Warrington but was brought up in Hindley Green, said she did not want to find out the sex of her baby until it was born but added that she would like a girl.

Commander of Wigan division Chief Supt Peter Owen said: "It's absolutely incredible that so many of our staff or their partners are, or have been, pregnant at the same time -- I'm thinking of having the water system tested to ensure there are no impurities affecting fertility levels!

"On a serious note, I do congratulate all of them on their good news -- it's nice to know we have so many happy staff working at Wigan."