WHEN miracle baby Rachel Broadhead was born her parents feared she wouldn't live to see her first birthday.

The battling Atherton youngster was born three months premature, and weighed just 1lb 12oz, before her weight dropped to a worrying 1lb 9oz and Rachel was featured on the front page of the Journal alongside a bag of sugar to show how tiny she was.

But the student nurse now celebrates her 21st birthday in perfect health.

Her parents Elaine Gough and Paul Broadhead say that over the years Rachel, a former student of Fred Longworth High at Tyldesley, has gone from "strength to strength."

Rachel, who also went to Leigh College, spent several weeks in hospital after her birth at St Mary's, Manchester, where she was weighed twice each week to monitor her progress, before she was allowed home.

The Manchester University and Stepping Hill hospital student earned herself the nickname "Miss Benidorm" during her time in hospital, as staff thought Rachel looked like she was sunbathing on a beach as she lay in her incubator.

Mrs Gough, who lives on Central Avenue, at Atherton, said: "Looking back, it is hard to believe that Rachel is now so energetic and strong-willed.

"We were so worried when she was born, because she was so tiny. We were forever ringing the hospital to see how she was and to ask if her weight had gone up. We were so relieved when Rachel improved.

"She went from strength to strength as a child, and is still a bundle of joy. She's so full of life and has a really loving and caring side to her. We're so proud of her.

"Rachel has wanted to be a nurse since she was about four years old. It could have something to do with her being so well looked after, who knows?"