A LEAP Year baby whose birthday falls on February 29 is looking to find five people who were born on the same day as her at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital in 1980.

Ali Bone, who will turn 40 next month, would like to trace the others to recreate a touching photograph of all six babies with their mothers, taken by the Gazette, four decades ago.

"It sounds funny but birthdays don't feel the same or even proper when I celebrate it on February 28," Mrs Bone told the Gazette.

"I thought it would be nice to see if we could recreate the photograph taken of us altogether 40 years later."

The original image, published in the Gazette on Thursday, March 6, 1980, shows the six proud mothers holding their newborn babies.

The piece reads: "The six Leap Year babies born at Basingstoke District Hospital will only have an official 'birthday' every four years in the future."

Pictured were: Mrs Noreen Whitaker, aged 29 at the time, of Ringshall Gardens in Bramley, with baby Simon David.

Mrs Andrea Skeen, aged 28 or Byfields Road in Kingsclere with her little one Catherine.

Mrs Gillian Fifield, aged 35 of Impstone Road in Pamber Heath with Lydia Josephine.

Mrs Sue Hornbrook, aged 21 of Malvern Close in Buckskin, with Peter Jamie.

Mrs Gill Gurney, aged 26 of Alton, with her daughter's name - then to be decided.

And finally, Mrs Geraldine Frolich of Tintern Close in Popley, with Alison Edith.

Alison, now 39, lives in Hook and is a full-time mum of two children - both of whom she said she is "glad" were born on "ordinary" days of the year.

She said: "It does make you feel quite special being born on a leap year but it can also be quite confusing.

"There's the dilemma of when to actually celebrate your birthday - the day before or into the new month?"

But there are some benefits, Mrs Bone said.

"I think it gives you a special bond with others who are also leap year babies. There is a guy who goes to our local pub. He's turning 80 this year. It's definitely unusual."

  • Were you in the photograph, or know someone who was? Get in touch: newsdesk@basingstokegazette.co.uk or call 01256207409.

Facts about Leap Year babies

1. They have a nickname. Most born on February 29 call themselves leaplings. They've also been referred to as Leapers and Leap Day babies.

2. The odds of being born on February 29 are 1 in 1,461. That makes them a real minority, with only about five million Leaplings in the whole world.

3. Being a Leap Day baby is so rare you're more likely to be born with 11 fingers and toes (odds are 1 in 500) than be born on February 29.

4. American rapper Ja Rule, Pope III and American singer Dinah Shore were all born on February 29