COLBY Hunt really is full of beans - his mum believes it's thanks to the teatime favourite he was born!

To save up for expensive IVF treatment, his parents, from Leigh, substituted their normal meat and two veg dinner with beans.

And after a year of munching the savoury dish, 26-year-old Vicky Hunt astounded doctors by getting pregnant.

She said: "We tried everything we could to get pregnant. But it was no good. Doctors said there was no chance I'd conceive naturally.

"So we turned to alternative methods; herbal remedies, old wives tales, even fertility gods!

"But it was the beans that did it in the end."

Vicky and husband Julian, of Hope Street, Leigh, were devastated when tests showed she wasn't ovulating. Doctors tried dozens of different drugs and procedures, but to no avail.

As conventional medicine failed them, the couple turned to alternative remedies.

Vicky revealed: "We tried different herbal infusions and natural pills. We changed our diets, tried relaxation techniques and breathing exercises. But nothing worked."

The pressure of trying to get pregnant took its toll on the couple. They came close to splitting and had to seek counselling. Finally, they realised that if they wanted a baby, they would have to 'save up' for one.

Said Vicky: "IVF had always been the final resort for us, because it was just too expensive.

"Eventually, we realised it was our only option and gave us the best chance of becoming parents. We sat down and worked out where savings could be made."

The couple forfeited nights out and treats, stopped buying presents and made do with what clothes and shoes they had. But it was their eating habits that changed most.

Explained Vicky: "Julian is a warehouse operative so he always liked a good meal when he came home.

"He always used to have steak and salad, or meat and veg at least three times a week.

"As a slimming consultant, I was always looking for healthy low fat treats and loved to cook tasty dishes. But the ingredients were expensive and had to go.

"He decided that we could live on beans for a year if it meant we had a baby to show for it at the end."

When they had saved £2,800, the couple set a date for their first IVF appointment. But two weeks before they were due to see the specialist, Vicky found out she was pregnant and nine weeks ago 7lb Colby came into the world.

Vicky added: "Nobody knows why I got pregnant when I did, but I'm sure our change in diet had something to do with it.

"Colby is a real life beany-baby - but I couldn't care if I never saw a tin of beans again!'

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