Nicola-Marie Saker, three, with her mum Emily Saker. Nicola-Marie is a leap-year baby

Today will be a special day for little Nicola Saker - it will be her first birthday since she was born on February 29, 2008.

Officially, Nicola will be turning four, but she is excited about having a celebration on her proper birthday.

Her mum Emma, 22, of Findlay Close, Rainham, said it made her extra special.

She said: "It was surprising when it happened on that day. It's a conversation starter when you mention it."

There could be teenage tantrums in one home when leap year baby Louise Eldridge celebrates her 13th birthday. She was born on February 29, 1960, and despite turning 52 on Wednesday, this will only be the 13th opportunity she has had to mark her 'real' birthday.

Louise, who lives in Beech Grove, Higham, said her unusual date of birth has sparked a lot of amusement over the years with family, friends and work colleagues. She usually celebrates her birthday with her family on March 1.

Brett Cleall, 40, will be marking his 10th official birthday, although he won't be painting the town red.

Brett, who lives in Micawber Close, Walderslade, works as decorator in London and has to be up early for work the next morning,

He joked: "I'll be 10 and I'm married with children and I can drive - that's illegal when you think about it!"

Brett Cleall will officially be 10 on February 29

Navy veteran Bryan Wright will be 80 - or 20 - on the same day. Mr Wright, of Ferrier Close, Rainham, served in the Royal Navy for nine-and-a-half years.

Teenager Kimberley Newman will technically be four on Wednesday, and she will be marking the occasion of turning 16 with a party with her friends at the Gillingham Ice Bowl this weekend.

Father-of-two Chris Cunningham, of Low Meadow, Halling, was born on February 29, 1976, and will be celebrating his ninth birthday.

He said: "It's nice having a birthday which not many people you know share with you."

Leap year facts

Leap years - also known as intercalary or bissextile years - exist to keep each year co-ordinated with the sun's position.

A complete revolution around the sun takes about 365 days and six hours, so every four years an extra 24 hours is built up.

A 'leapling' is the name given to a person born in a leap year on February 29. Leaplings tend to celebrate their birthdays on February 28 or March 1.

In England and Wales people born on February 29 turn 18 and legally become adults on February 28.

In the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance the character Frederic, born on February 29, had to be a pirate apprentice until he was 21, so, with his missed birthdays, that stretched to the age of 84.

Notable leap year babies throughout history include Pope Paul III (born 1468); Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini, who wrote the William Tell Overture (born 1792); English actor Joss Ackland (born 1928); American rapper Ja Rule (born 1976); and Crystal Palace midfielder Darren Ambrose (born 1984).

And for twins Paul and Andrew Butler, February 29 is doubly special.

For they will both be celebrating their 56th birthday.

Paul, of Earlsfield Road, Hythe, is now a sales rep for a card company and Andrew is a partner in the solicitors' firm Worthingtons in Folkestone.

Andrew and Paul Butler are leap year twins

Paul added: "We will celebrate this February 29 together with a meal with our partners, but the big party is when we become 60, as what would be only be our 15th birthday.

"Usually, though, our birthdays are just another day and in other years we mark them on February 28."

"It amuses me that I drive a car, have been married twice and have three children when I am on paper just turning 14."

But one woman is celebrating turning the ripe old age of 19!

Herbrie Wirt was born on February 29, 1936, and should be celebrating her 76th birthday.

But thanks to the quirks of the leap year, she is officially still just a teenager.

Speaking about her upcoming birthday, Herbrie, who lives in Jemmett Road, South Ashford, said: "I usually celebrate my birthday on March 1.

"My father was Welsh and I'm very proud of my roots, so what better day to celebrate than St David's Day."

Herbrie will be celebrating with her five children, six step-children, fourteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.