A BABY born alive and well after her parents were told to expect a stillbirth, was today celebrating her first birthday.

Gabrielle Louise Harrison was at home with mum, Julie, 29; dad, Mick, 30, and sister Libby Jo, three, in Tythebarn Street, Darwen, to mark the very special event.

Gabrielle stunned doctors and midwives at St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, when she was born.

Two days earlier, Julie had been told her baby had died in the womb.

No heartbeat could be found during a routine scan.

A second set of tests failed to locate the heartbeat and Julie and Mick prepared for the worst.

A dimly-lit room was prepared for the delivery.

Julie endured 16 hours of painful labour - but then she heard her baby cry at the last push.

Julie said: "She has been fine.

"We can't believe how big she is when you consider what happened.

"She has been quite a handful - especially now because she is crawling, and almost walking, so she is into everything."

People living in Darwen have been touched by Gabrielle's story and taken the little girl to their hearts.

They still stop the couple in the town just to look at her.

Julie said: "I don't think they can believe what happened - we couldn't at first."

Gabrielle has now been given a clean bill of health by doctors and no longer needs hospital treatment.

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