A COUPLE who got married thanks to News Shopper are now expecting a baby again because of Kent's top paper.

Helen and Nick Hooper met through the lonely hearts column of the Bromley News Shopper in 1994.

In 2001 they made an appeal for readers to help them have a child by donating an egg.

A donor came forward and although the couple did not receive an egg from her they went further up the waiting list for treatment.

In 2004 Mrs Hooper got pregnant but tragically her son Vincent was stillborn 23 weeks into her pregnancy.

The couple, of Leyton Cross Road, Dartford, had another attempt because they were top of the waiting list.

But after this attempt also failed, they made another News Shopper appeal in September 2004 as they feared time would run out.

Last August the pair of Leyton Cross Road, Dartford, got the news they had been desperate to hear they are again expecting a baby.

Mrs Hooper says her baby is so full of energy and he or she is trying to let her know everything will be fine this time.

She said: "I can't imagine a baby with this much energy not being okay."

Mrs Hooper says said she felt a mixture of apprehension and excitement when she discovered she was pregnant.

She added: "We felt we did not want to get too excited because of what happened before.

"It was like a little kid burst out but the adult said don't get excited."

The couple plan to tell their unborn baby about the part News Shopper had to play in their history.

They have a photograph of Vincent and say when their child asks questions about him, they will explain who he was.

Mrs Hooper says if her child wants to trace his or her genetic mother she would lend her support.

She said: "News Shopper has played quite a big role in our life."

To become an egg donor, call the Lister Hospital on 0800 849 7036 and quote reference 436145.