Most little girls get excited for their birthday, but for Nicola-Marie Saker this year’s celebration will be extra special.

The Parkwood Junior School pupil turns eight today but as she was born in a Leap Year, she has only been able to celebrate her actual birthday once before.

To mark the occasion she had a horse-themed party with her friends and family on Saturday, complete with a horse pinata and party games.

Tonight, her parents, Emily and Jack, are planning to take her out for dinner.

Nicola-Marie was born two weeks early, much to her parents’ surprise.

Mrs Saker, 26, said: “I didn’t expect my pregnancy to go full term, but I wasn’t expecting to give birth on February 29 A lot of people and family members said I would, but it was quite a surprise.”

She thinks Nicola-Marie will be more excited this year: “She has an official birthday once every four years, it’s quite a special thing for her.

“I think she will feel more excited than she has previously, because she’s able to actually celebrate on her birthday, especially with her friends at school that day.”

Usually the family, of Findlay Close, Gillingham, celebrate the milestone on March 1, as a whole year has passed.

Nicola-Marie said: “I’m really excited. It’s only the second time I’ve had my proper birthday but some people in my class keep saying that I’m still two!”

Mrs Saker said: “On behalf of the whole family I’d like to wish Nicola-Marie a very happy second and eighth birthday.”

A leap year, where an extra day is added to the end of February, occurs every four years to bring the Gregorian calendar in line with the solar system.

It takes exactly 365.2422 days for the Earth to orbit the sun, but as the Gregorian calendar uses 365 days, an extra day is added to keep clocks and calendars in sync with the Earth.