A 15-year-old schoolgirl went into labour at a Bradford school and gave birth during lessons.

The drama surrounding the student, who is not thought to have known she was pregnant, unfolded at St Joseph's Catholic College.

The girl, who is in year 11 studying for her GCSEs, went into labour just after the start of the school day at the school on Cunliffe Road, Manningham.

A rapid response medical team and an emergency ambulance were sent to the school after 9am.

Spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Leeds, John Grady, said: "We can confirm that a baby was born at St Joseph's Catholic College on Friday, December 15, to one of the pupils.

"Every help is being given to the mother and child and to the immediate family of those concerned.

"At a time like this we hope that everyone will give all of them time to adjust to the new circumstances and allow space for them to make plans for the future."

A spokesman for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service confirmed: "On Friday at 9.19am we got a call to the school and we sent a rapid response team and an emergency ambulance.

"A female patient was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary by ambulance."

St Joseph's, an all girl school, has more than 1,000 pupils, with around 176 in the sixth form, and 69 teaching staff.

Councillor Phil Thornton, chairman of Bradford Council's Young People and Education Improvement Committee, said: "It is clearly a very worrying situation and no doubt a very distressing one for the child concerned as well as the family. Whilst wishing them both well I would like to think that there was adequate support for the girl and her family during what must be a very difficult time."

Labour group education spokesman Ralph Berry (Wibsey) said: "I hope that that the girl gets the offer of sufficient support to enable her to continue her education. It's very important that people in this situation are able to complete their education."

The school will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2008 and a series of events are planned to mark the occasion.

But it will be the school's last year because of plans to amalgamate all three Bradford Catholic secondary schools.

St Joseph's, St Bede's and Yorkshire Martyrs College will merge into a new co-educational Catholic secondary school based on the St Bede's site in Highgate, Heaton.