MEET Emily Howard, who celebrates a birthday with a difference today.

Emily, from Alne, near Easingwold, is marking her 12th birthday on the 12th day of the 12th month of 2012.

Her father, Ben, said that he and his wife Lucy first became aware of the looming statistical quirk a few days after Emily was born at York Hospital, at just after 2am on December 12, 2000.

“I had gone down to the Register Office to register her birth and the Registrar pointed out what would happen in 2012,” he said.

“When Emily got a bit older, she became aware her birthday this year would be a little bit different.”

He said Emily, a Year 7 pupil at Easingwold School, would have a birthday tea today, with a swimming party at Waterworld at the weekend.