Ruth Weston was so impressed with her "beautiful" experiences of water births... she bought the company.

And now, the mum-of-four is the proud owner of what she believes is the only supplier of home rental birthing pools in the North-East of England.

"It was the impulse buy of the year," said Mrs Weston, pictured, of Allerton, Bradford, who now runs Aquabirths Birthing Pool Hire with her husband David.

After a traumatic labour with her first child, Hannah, now eight, Mrs Weston opted for a home birth for her second, four-year-old Abraham, and her third, Tilly, now two.

Both were happy experiences.

Attended by community midwives, a homeopath and her husband David, Mrs Weston found the warm water in the pool a great form of pain relief and being in the familiar surroundings of home more comforting than being in hospital.

When pregnant for the fourth time Mrs Weston again phoned the company renting out the water pools but was told its owner was quitting to emigrate.

She said: "The company was going to fold and the pools were just going to be left in her garage.

"I had had two wonderful births in water and could not imagine being in labour without an Aquabirths pool," she said.

"I was also upset to think of all the other women who would not have the opportunity to benefit from this effective pain relief and beautiful way of birthing. So I said: 'OK, I'll take it over.'"

Within ten days, terms had been agreed, the cheque signed, Alison and her family had left for New Zealand, and the Westons were the proud owners of six birthing pools and of Aquabirths Birthing Pool Hire for the grand sum of £1,000.

Bouncing baby Stan made his appearance shortly afterwards.

"People keep making jokes about Victor Kiam and Remington shavers!" Mrs Weston said. "I just want other women to have the opportunity to have the good births I have enjoyed."

After a business start-up course at Carlisle Business Centre run by Digitalife, and with Stan a few months old, Ruth and David plan to launch the company properly in April.

"We have had several orders and inquiries already but we need to get the word out that particularly if you don't want drugs, the large padded Aquabirths pool of warm water is probably the best pain relief around - and very good value.

"We know, because we have done it three times out of four! It's the only place to be in late labour," Mrs Weston added.

In addition to the birthing pool hire, Ruth and David are selling washable nappies and ethical laundry liquids. They also hope to set up a Nappy Laundry Service within the next twelve months.

"It is incredibly hard work with four children and one a small baby, but its all very exciting," she said.

Ann Devanny of the Bradford Royal Infirmary's maternity unit, a sister of ten years' experience, said: "Water births are not provided by this hospital and the only way women in Bradford can have one is by hiring a pool.

"We make provision to be there and attend and provide care, but we don't have anything to do with the setting up and maintenance of the pool."

She said one per cent of Bradford women opted for home births.

For more information or a chat about waterbirths, hiring an Aquabirths Pool, or Real Nappies, contact Ruth or David on (01274) 781358, e-mail Aquabirths@fsmail.net or log on to the website at www.aquabirths.co.uk