THE girlfriend of man who died alongside his friend in a fatal car crash is celebrating the birth of the daughter he never knew she was expecting.

Lizzy Phillipson gave birth to Ava Olivia Rose Benson at Darlington Memorial Hospital on Sunday (March 29).

The 26-year-old’s feelings of joy were mixed with sadness that her partner, Grant Benson, never got to meet his baby daughter - who Miss Phillipson says looks just like him.

Mr Benson, of Barnard Castle died alongside friend Nick Davidson, 27, of Middleton-in-Teesdale, after their car hit a tree between Barnard Castle and Whorlton on August 16 last year.

Miss Phillipson found out she was pregnant two days after the fatal collision.

She said she was glad Mr Benson’s memory would live on through their daughter, especially as he had told her he wanted a little girl one day.

“Grant would have been chuffed I just wish that he could see her - I do think he would have made a great dad,” she said.

“I’m absolutely chuffed that it’s a girl. We did not know the sex of the baby because I wanted to find out on the day. I broke down a little bit and was crying my eyes out when she came out.”

Miss Phillipson, of Darlington, was due to give birth on April 8, but was induced early after suffering from symphysis pubis dysfunction, which caused pain in her pelvis and meant she had to use crutches.

She also suffered a miscarriage with her son Luca, in 2009, who is buried near Mr Benson.

Her mum, Helen Kipling, was by her daughter’s side for the birth after she was taken into hospital on Wednesday (March 25).

Miss Phillipson said: “I went in on Wednesday to be induced but it wasn’t successful until Sunday and it was not until Sunday night, at about 5pm, that things got going and then I was only pushing for 25 minutes.

“I think it’s the best experience in the world because all of a sudden you have got a little person and it’s crazy.”

Now Ava, weighing 6lb 14oz, is settling in well at home and has been getting plenty of cuddles from both sides of the family.

Miss Phillipson’s first child from a previous relationship, Theo, six, is also delighted to have a new baby sister.

She said: “Theo is chuffed, he came into hospital and looked at me and said ‘why have you not had the baby yet?’ and I said I had so when he bent over her he let out a little gasp – he’s very happy with a baby sister.

“I’m really happy, I’m just so chuffed, I keep looking at her and I cannot stop.”