A MIDWIFE has retired after almost four decades of delivering hundreds of Bradford babies.

Lorraine Towler gave birth to her own three children at Bradford Royal Infirmary and her first grandchild was born there too.

She said every birth had been a special occasion and a privilege in her 39 year career - some have even made it into the media.

In 2010 Mrs Towler, 57, featured in the Telegraph & Argus after she and another midwife, Janet Dirkin, battled through snow and treacherous black ice to deliver a baby safely at a Denholme farmhouse on a remote lane.

And earlier this month Mrs Towler, who has been a community team leader and is a supervisor of midwives, was seen on a BBC documentary carrying out health and safety checks on a barge where a woman wanted to freebirth without the help of a doctor or midwife.

She said: "Every single birth has been special and it has been a privilege to be there.

"I've done hospital deliveries, delivery in caravan, waterbirths, all sorts. There's been babies we've got to out in the community just in time before they've arrived - so many different situations.

"The changes have been mammoth. Years ago we had our own patch and you were responsible for all your mums, you and your family were on call from 32 weeks until she gave birth so life was on hold really. Then we had teams, then we worked from home in the community.

"From paper records we went paper light and now we've gone electronic. We used to be on bleepers and have to run and find a phone box on a Sunday morning, then we had the first mobile phones that were like bricks, now we've got our own."

And the 57-year-old added: "Looking back I'm tremendously proud of our maternity services. I think the women in Bradford get smashing care from a dedicated, hard-working team. I'm going to miss them."

Colleagues marked Mrs Towler's last day with balloons and cake. Some of the faces joining in the celebration were familiar faces from the past including some of the mums she helped.

Mrs Towler, who lives in Wibsey, won't be putting her feet up just yet though. As well as enjoying her free time and baby granddaughter, Thea, she will be teaching an aqua-natal exercise in Bradford pools as part of a new Public Health-funded scheme to encourage healthier mums and babies.