THE staff on a maternity ward are adding to the patter of tiny feet after 11 fell pregnant.

Six midwives, four doctors and an anaesthetist are helping each other prepare for childbirth.

But their joy leaves the maternity unit at North Tyneside Hospital stretched.

On March 29, midwife Nicola Wilkinson gave birth to her second child, Aidan Denyer, and the following day, Jyoti Done, a registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology, had Nineesha, kicking off a six-month staff delivery spree.

In coming months, midwives Michelle Eastlake, Nicola Wilkinson, Alexis Luckley, Kim Marshall, Lis McNulty, and Michelle Salem will give birth. They will be joined by Deepali Trivedi, a registrar in anaesthetics, Hala Abdullah, a registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology, and Madhavi Gudipati, a senior house officer in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Ms Wilkinson said: "I think there must be something in the water."