THE impromptu arrival of a Leap Year baby put her dad's brush with showbiz in the shade.

As Abbey Leech was preparing to enter the world, he was poised to take his first tilt at television fame - and possibly fortune.

"I was meant to be in Liverpool for 4.30pm to audition for Family Fortunes," explained proud dad Alan, of Leach Street.

"But my wife called me at work in the morning and said she was going into labour.

"I couldn't believe it. I had to let my family go without me and rush to the hospital."

Alan's three brothers, his sister and two sisters-in-law flew the family flag at the Atlantic Tower hotel in Liverpool but won't know the result of the audition until next week.

Abbey weighed in at nearly 7lb when she finally emerged at Queen's Park Hospital on February 29 after mum Eileen had been in labour for 36 hours.

"I was hoping Abbey would be born on the 28th," said exhausted Eileen. "She was four days overdue and I never thought it she would take so long.

"We'll have to celebrate her birthday on February 28 in future."

Alan, who works at Prestige Beds in Blackburn, bought a new tumble-dryer as a present for Eileen, which he hopes will last another eight years - like their old one.

Officially, Abbey's birthday is separated by four-year intervals. So by the year 2004, she will be a mature two and Alan may have saved enough for another tumble-dryer, according to his workmates.

"They are all making jokes about how much money I'll save on birthday presents!"

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