A great-grandmother is celebrating after the fifth generation of their family was welcomed into the world.

Barbara Isaacs, 73, was thrilled when granddaughter Jade Francis, 23, gave birth to Ellie earlier this month.

The happy news was extra special for Mrs Isaacs, as she recalled daughter Helen Eastwood, now 42, was born premature, making headline news in the Kent Messenger at the time.

Arriving eight weeks early and weighing just four pounds Helen required two blood transfusions while still in her mother’s womb and then three after she was born.

Her mother’s rhesus negative blood type had begun attacking the baby’s cells, which can happen when a foetus has a different blood type to its parent.

Today this is prevented with an injection.

Mrs Isaacs, of Quested Way, Harrietsham, said: “She was the most premature and smallest baby to have survived at that time and now we are a generation of five.”

Great-great grandmother Doris Wood lives in nearby Lenham. The sprightly 96-year-old still lives at home and is thrilled at the arrival of baby Ellie.

Mrs Isaacs said: “Mum has been showing all the photos to friends at her Age Concern group, she is so happy.”

The great-grandma who has two other children, Ian and Julie, is a natural with babies and fostered 32 newborns until they were six weeks old and ready for adoption.

She added: “I loved it and used to get the children to name them.” Granddaughter Jade recently moved to Devon, where Ellie was born, as her Army husband was posted there.

She was quickly followed by her mum Helen whose husband Michael served 22 years in the Royal Engineers rising to Sgt Major.

Mrs Isaacs and husband Terry, 69, are planning another visit to see their family in September. In the meantime, they will be near to their other grandchildren including her son’s 14-year-old triplets, who live in Loose.