Britain’s biggest baby girl has been born in the town, weighing an eye-watering 14lbs 4oz.

Elaine Martin and her fiance Sean O’Halloran had been warned to expect their first child to tip the scales, but when Niamh came out at the record-breaking weight, even the midwives were stunned.

The figure is nearly double the UK average and is thought to be a national record.

Miss Martin, 34, of Cedarcroft Road, said family and friends had been shocked by the statistic when Niamh was born on November 8 last year by Caesarean at Ipswich Hospital.

At nearly four months old, Niamh has put on only a few more pounds after initially losing some weight but remains well above average for her age.

Miss Martin, an acute medicine nurse based at the hospital, said: “The needle on the scales kept going around and didn’t stop where they thought it would.

“Everyone’s reaction has been ‘really, that much?’ and you can see their jaws hit the ground.”

Mr O’Halloran, 32, works as a research scientist and the couple plan to marry later this year after three years together.