A five-year-old girl has returned to a Shropshire tourism attraction to thank Santa Claus after her Christmas wish of a baby sister suddenly came true for the family.

Anwen Evans visited Father Christmas at Park Hall Countryside Experience, near Oswestry, last year and when asked what she wanted for Christmas she said a twin buggy for her dolls and a “new baby sister”.

The innocent request raised a smile from Anwen’s mum Anne who at the age of 45 was not expecting to have any more children.

But that smile soon turned to shock when just six days later Anne, unaware she was pregnant, went into labour at her home on the Shropshire/Welsh border and subsequently gave birth to a healthy baby daughter.

Yesterday, just over a year after the unexpected arrival, Anwen, mum Anne and one-year-old Angharad returned to Park Hall Countryside Experience from their Overton-on-Dee home to congratulate Father Christmas on his ability to make wishes come true.

Anne, a nurse who is originally from Treflach near Oswestry, recalled taking Anwen to see Santa on December 15 last year.

“She told him she wanted a twin buggy and a baby sister. I just smiled and didn’t think any more of it. I had no idea that I was pregnant.

“But Anwen’s wish came true when on December 21 while I was at home I suddenly went into labour. It was a complete shock.

“You hear about women not knowing they are pregnant until the day they deliver but I just never thought it would happen to me. My friend was with me thank goodness and I gave birth at home to Angharad.

“Everything turned out fine in the end and I didn’t even have to go to hospital.

“Anwen was at nursery that day so when she got home her little baby sister, who she had asked Father Christmas for, was waiting for her. She now knows Father Christmas really does make wishes come true.

“My husband Maurice and I were delighted, if a bit shocked, by Angharad’s arrival and we came back to Park Hall this year to thank Father Christmas. I have asked him not to make any more accurate predictions like that although I wouldn’t mind if he told me next week’s lottery numbers.”

Rachel Mottram from the Park Hall Countryside Experience said: “We are delighted that Santa makes our customers’ wishes come true here at Park Hall.”

By Iain St John