Lancashire teenager Annie celebrates her '˜fourth' birthday

The 16-year-old’s birthday falls on February 29 – which normally only comes round every four years.

Schoolgirl Annie was today celebrating her ‘leap day’ birthday on the proper day today for only the fourth time.

But the celebrations will be muted by the fact that she is back behind her desk at Worden High School, Leyland.

The youngster, of Mill Lane, Leyland, spent the weekend with family and friends and was enjoying an outing to a trampoline park yesterday.

Mum Andrea Armson, who with husband Carl has three other children, said: “ I remember when I was going into labour I thought, ‘Please don’t let the baby be born on the 29th!’

“But she was and that was that.

“It doesn’t really affect her – in a way I think it makes her feel a bit special.”

Annie said she was looking forward to her big day.

She said: “I suppose I’m only four really! When it doesn’t fall on a leap year we celebrate it on the 28th.”

February 29 is a date that only occurs every fourth year, and is called leap day.

This day is added to the Gregorian calendar in leap years as a corrective measure, because the Earth does not orbit around the sun in precisely 365 days.

It is also a day when it is traditional for women to propose to the man in their life.