A MUM who started delivering her baby in Tesco 17 weeks early is celebrating the health of her miracle daughter.

Little Lacey-Jane is thought to be the most premature birth in Harwich and Manningtree. She should only be two and a half months old by now, but after being born at 23 weeks, she will soon be reaching her seven month birthday.

Doctors have called the tot a miracle baby after doubting she would survive an hour.

Her mum Kelsie Hemmings, 23, was rushed to a specialist unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on July 8 last year when she suffered a haemorrhage and her waters broke.

She went to get a drink in a nearby Tesco when she suddenly delivered the umbilical cord.

Kelsie quickly realised her premature baby was being starved of oxygen. Surgeons rushed to give Kelsie a caesarean section to try and save Lacey-Jane.

Kelsie, of Coke Street, Harwich, said: “One doctor thought she was already dead but when they scanned her heart beat it was so strong they rushed ahead with the caesarean."

Lacey-Jane, who weighed just one pound when she was born, spent the first few months of her life between Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and Colchester General Hospital. Doctors are amazed at how well she is improving and she was allowed home at the beginning of December.

READ MORE IN THIS WEEK'S STANDARD FOR KELSIE AND LACEY-JANE'S STORY.