Teeside opera star Suzannah Clarke is singing with joy after giving birth to her baby daughter.

Baby Cristiana Sophia arrived safely a day late – but in the nick of time for dad Chris Borg to race to the hospital.

Chris was about to board the London train at Eaglescliffe when he got a desperate call to turn back.

Suzannah was already at James Cook Maternity Hospital and wanted her partner by her side when their first baby was born.

“Cristiana’s a star - our little Malteser,” said Chris, whose family come from Malta.

Suzannah, 39, who trained in Italy with Pavarotti’s coach and helped bring the Proms to Middlesbrough, said: “This is the most fantastic moment in life.”

Suzannah lives in London with Chris who works for the National Association of Local Councils.

His mother is originally from Acklam but the family on his father’s side live in Malta.

That’s where he and Suzannah met after a priest she worked with at a Manchester homeless charity invited her to sing at a wedding on the island.