A soldier who gave birth to a baby at Abingdon's Dalton Barracks tried to keep it secret.

The 20-year-old Royal Logisitic Corps soldier is understood to have hidden her pregnancy before giving birth to a 6lb baby, which she tried to conceal in her quarters.

The baby was discovered when another person stationed at the base heard the child crying and informed senior officers.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “We can confirm that a baby was born in military accommodation in Abingdon on Friday. Both mother and baby are being cared for in hospital.

"We can confirm that the mother is a serving soldier and all welfare needs of both mother and child are being addressed.”

She is believed to be the first serving soldier to give birth at a UK barracks.