AT the age of 58, new mum Sandra Lennon is two years short of collecting her bus pass - yet she's just given birth to her third child.

This has made the Surrey woman one of the country's oldest mothers -- she received fertility treatment costing £17,000 -- which has sparked an outcry from many people, including, apparently, her two children already in their 30s.

Usually the arrival of a bouncing baby is greeted with joy, but for Mrs Lennon, who is also a grandmother of four, the birth has led to a number of people believing she is too old to have a child.

Jack Scarisbrick, national chairman of the pro-life, anti abortion group Life, is opposed to IVF treatment and believes it is simply wrong for women to become mothers at such an age because the welfare of the child is put at risk.

"All children have the right to have parents who are capable of giving them the love, support and care they need," says Scarisbrick.

"Young children are demanding and older mothers will find it difficult to cope."

Having a baby at 58 is perhaps a little unusual, but these days more and more women are having children later in life.

I had my son two years ago when I was 41. At the hospital I was officially termed a "geriatric mother" and yes, I was probably one of the oldest new mums on my ward. Certainly, I was the oldest first-time mum. But geriatric?

The average age of having a first born has gone from the early 20s in the late 1960s to the late 20s in the 21st century. Even later for some -- take a look at Madonna, Cherie Blair and Jerry Hall -- all of them had babies over the age of 40.

But Scarisbrick tells us that "young children are demanding and older mothers may find it difficult to cope".

Certainly, my life was turned upside down when my son was born. And, yes, he was extremely demanding. But finding it hard to cope? I don't think so.

Tiredness was an issue, and still is, but isn't that the case with all new mums? There's an obvious physical toll that comes with a new baby.

And when the baby becomes a toddler, the tiredness becomes even greater.

But never for one moment have I felt that I, or my son for that matter, will suffer from him being born to an older mother.

Research has revealed that older women might actually make better mothers than their younger counterparts.

I would guess that the majority of older mums have planned the pregnancy, are in a stable relationship and have more cash. Surely this must have a major, and extremely, positive effect on motherhood and the child?

And, as an older mother, I don't feel I am missing out on any social life. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy going out and have a good time, but at 43 my idea of a good night out is dinner with my husband and friends, a good bottle of wine and getting to bed at a decent time.

I know in my 20s, 30s even, I would have deemed that a boring night out and considered my social life a complete flop if I didn't roll home bleary-eyed and drunk at 5am.

Corrine Sweet is the author of Birth Begins At Forty (Hodder £6.99) and had her first child at the age of 43.

She also believes there are benefits to being an older mother.

"Older women are more experienced and more their own people," she says. "They are less likely to be intimidated by medical people and will be more assertive."

Yet Scarisbrick argues that having an older mother will cause social problems for the child once he starts school and even later on in life. I think he means I might "pop my clogs" before my son has reached an age when he can look after himself.

God forbid that happens, but surely that could happen to any mother at any age. And women today are much younger in outlook, much healthier and fitter than, say our grandmothers, or even mothers, were at our age.

Life expectancy for women is ever increasing -- it is currently 79.9 years for British women -- and aren't children meant to keep you younger for longer?

Of course I admit there are drawbacks in having children later in life. My main concern when I discovered I was pregnant was the possible increased risks during pregnancy -- Downs Syndrome for instance increases greatly in mothers over 40.

Pre-eclampsia is another. This is caused by a defect in the placenta and can lead to high blood pressure.

However, none of these put me off having a baby. The only thing that stopped me from having one in my 20s or 30s was that I simply wasn't ready.

I was building my career and I absolutely knew I didn't want to swap my wild nights out for sleepless nights in. I knew I didn't want to palm my baby off with anyone who would babysit so I could continue with my full and hectic social life.

Selfish? Of course. I was young, free and single and I was enjoying every single minute of it.

Once I turned 40 it was then I knew the time had come to have a child. Luckily for me, my biological clock continued to tick .... and work.

Admittedly, my pregnancy wasn't great -- all day morning sickness put paid to that -- and the birth was no bed of roses either. Are any?

But, as for being an older mother, well, all I can tell you is that the timing has been right for me.

I have a happy marriage, a lovely home, a good career and a wonderful, and very happy, little boy. Surely a basis for a secure and confident child and not one who will experience "social problems" Mr Scarisbrick.

And I like to think I am a good mum.

Surely that's what really matters. At any age.