AS one Kate went into labour in London, another was about to welcome her own special arrival almost 250 miles away in East Lancashire.

Katie Woods, from Roe Lee, Blackburn, gave birth to her daughter, Harper, just an hour-and-a-half after the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, brought the newest member of the royal family into the world.

Harper was one of eight babies born at birth centres in Burnley and Blackburn who will share their birthday with the as-yet-unnamed Princess of Cambridge.

Miss Woods, 28, and her partner David Frame, 45, said they were aware of the royal baby’s birth during a seven-hour labour on Saturday morning.

Harper was eventually born at the Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre in Burnley General Hospital at 10.02am.

Mr Frame said: “Somebody texted me and said the Duchess had gone into labour so we knew the timings would be similar.

“I heard that the Royal Mint are apparently making special pennies to give to kids born on this day to mark the date, so that’s pretty special. We’ll definitely remember the date!”

Lydia Bradley, 26, didn’t have too far to travel to give birth to her second child, Bertie – her and her husband, Ben, 36, live near the hospital in Barden Lane, Burnley.

She said: “I knew the royal baby was overdue and I was pretty much on time. He was 8lb 14.5oz when he came out at 2.38pm.

“I had been in earlier in the morning but they said I wasn’t dilated enough so I just popped home and came back later. When I heard Kate had had hers I thought: ‘Right, I have to have mine today’.

“The whole family are big Burnley FC fans but he’s not named after Bertie Bee, although I suppose it’s not a bad coincidence.

“His middle name is George too so there’s that royal link.”

Joanna and Chris Clements, from Burnley but living in Baxenden, celebrated the arrival of their daughter Harriet at 12.20pm, weighing 7lb 0.5oz.

Mrs Clements, who had been in hospital since Wednesday, said: “We’re not particularly royalists but it will be nice for Harriet when she grows up.

The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a girl, weighing 8lb 3oz, at 8.34am on Saturday.