ASTONISHED Linda Bentley gave birth just 30 minutes after learning that her "cyst" was a baby.

The 45-year-old - whose other two children are in their twenties - didn't know she was pregnant until medical staff examined her.

Linda, 45, of Cemetery Road, Darwen, had taken indigestion tablets for stomach pains before husband David decided to call in an on-call doctor from Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.

He said that Linda had a cyst on her ovary and recommended she go to Queen's Park Hospital.

It was only then that an examination revealed Linda had no cyst at all, she was in labour and ready to give birth. Minutes later Linda was cradling baby Michael David, who weighed in at 6lbs 4oz.

Medical experts today said that 87 per cent of women are infertile by the time they are 45 and the chance of the average 45-year-old successfully getting pregnant and giving birth without medical help and monitoring during pregnancy is practically zero.

Linda, who has two grown daughters -- Pauline and Dawn -- said she did not know anything about the pregnancy, she did not even have the trademark bump.

"It was absolutely amazing. I did not know what was going on after a while, my head was just spinning with what was happening.

"I had grown a little bit but I thought it was natural.

"To be a mother again is absolutely outstanding. David and I were looking forward to being grandparents!"

Stunned father David, 47, said he was still in shock at what happened.

He said: "I just cannot believe it."

"This has come out of the blue. I am absolutely stunned.

"I was not fussed about having a boy but it is nice to have one after two girls.

"When the doctor said it was an ovarian cyst I was very concerned for Linda. I went with her to the hospital and I was panicking all the way there.

"But when the doctor said Linda was expecting and the baby was on the way I did not know what to feel. On the one hand I was really happy but I think I was too stunned to react to anything.

"Our other children are in their 20s, Dawn has been married for two years, so I was looking forward to helping take care of my grandchildren. But now I am going round shops getting baby stuff for our baby.

"They are thrilled at the prospect of having a baby brother in the family. They are looking forward to fussing over him.

"I suppose that's the summer holiday out of the question."

The on-call doctor was not available to comment but the problems of mis-diagnosis were highlighted by a spokesman for Darwen Health Clinic, who said: "The symptoms of an ovarian cyst can be similar to those of a woman in labour. The stomach pain is a condition associated with both.

"We wish the family all the best in the future."