DELIGHTED mum Linda Worgan has given birth to her first baby six weeks early so she can start cancer treatment.

Leon Jay was born by caesarean section at Wigan Infirmary on July 20, and Linda, aged 25, can now begin six months of intensive chemotherapy after surgery for breast cancer.

The long-awaited first child for Linda and husband Craig, weighed in at 4lb 13oz, and was immediately taken into intensive care where the couple are spending every day with him until he is allowed home next month.

Linda is meanwhile waiting to be given a date for her first treatment.

She said: "We are chuffed to bits. All the family love the baby to pieces and they are supporting us all the way.

"We have got everything ready and I can't wait for him to come home."

The couple, who are staying with family in Royal Drive, Leigh, discovered Linda was pregnant in December, after seven years of trying and two IVF treatments, and were looking forward to the birth of their son.

Four months later came the shattering blow that a lump discovered in Linda's breast was cancer.

In May she underwent a mastectomy and removal of 23 lymph glands at Wigan Infirmary and was told her baby must be induced early so she could start chemotherapy sessions.

Fortunately for Linda, who beat cervical cancer at the age of 17, the prognosis looks good.

She has been forced to give up her job at a Lowton factory and put her home in Lostock Walk, Leigh, up for sale. She said: "I was staggered when I was diagnosed, I just wasn't expecting it. It came out of the blue.

"Thankfully I have a strong family behind me. I have been told by doctors they think I am clear, but they can never guarantee it 100 per cent."

Linda was just one of the many cancer victims supported by the first Leigh Run for Life at Pennington Country Park in June.

Her sister-in -law Donna Anderton who joined the 2,000 fund raisers attracted much attention with her T-shirt tribute "for my sister-in-law who is six and a half months pregnant".

She said: "We are all over the moon, Leon's a lovely baby. Linda's not much time before she starts her treatment, but she is a strong girl and we will all do our best to help her get through this."