Overjoyed Kathleen and Victor Hammerton today told of their delight after becoming grandparents - twice in one day.

The pair were celebrating the birth of their first grandchild when a second one made a surprise appearance.

The proud couple had gone to Basildon Hospital to visit daughter Jenny, who had given birth to baby Joseph early on Thursday morning.

Pregnant sister, Debbie, of Billericay, was due to meet her parents at the hospital to visit her newly born nephew but when she failed to show, they began to suspect something was wrong.

Mrs Hammerton, 58, of Kennington Avenue, Benfleet, said: "We spotted Debbie's car in the car park when we went to visit Jenny but didn't think anything of it.

"But as the time slipped by and she still hadn't turned up to see Jenny, we joked about how funny it would be if she had gone into labour.

"My husband went down to the delivery ward to inquire and, lo and behold, what we had laughed about had come true."

"Debbie had given birth to a baby girl, who has been named Emma, just after 8.30pm."

The two babies, who were not due until this week, are the couple's first grandchildren.

Jenny Vinton, of Wellingbury, Benfleet, was due on Thursday and sister Debbie Johnson, from Tensing Gardens, Billericay, was due today.

Mrs Hammerton added: "It was quite a shock and we were just walking around in a daze. It was like my birthday and Christmas all rolled into one. At first they were both given the same date for the birth but after scans, it was put a few days apart.

"We used to joke about the chances of having them both born on the same day but never thought it would happen. What are the chances of that happening?"

Baby Joseph, who weighed in at 7lbs 11oz and tiny Emma, who weighed only 5lbs 10oz, were both at home with their parents today.

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