A YORK woman whose husband of five months was killed in a road crash has given birth to their son.

Julie Lee was devastated when her husband, Rob, 24, a former York Wasps rugby player, died when his motorbike collided head-on with a car on the A19, near Riccall, last July.

But her heartbreak was tinged with joy this month when she gave birth to the baby son they had both been longing for.

Julie, 25, said: "Rob was the whole world to me and he was ecstatic when he discovered he was going to be a dad.

"His death has left a big hole in the lives of all his family, but the birth of our son has given me something to live for.

"Knowing I will always have part of Rob left in our child is a great comfort to me and Rob's parents."

Adam Robert Lee weighed in at 8lbs 9oz when he was born at York Hospital on February 5 - but not without a hitch or two.

Speaking from her father Mike Olney's home, in Temple Avenue, York, Julie said the birth was a "traumatic" experience.

She said: "The umbilical cord had wrapped around Adam's neck twice and was strangling him.

"This led to a drop in his heart rate and I was in labour for about four hours.

"It was very scary and they prepared me for a caesarean but, fortunately, I was eventually able to give birth naturally.

"I would like to say a big thank-you to my two best friends, Charlotte McGrath and Gillian Bell, for being with me at the birth. They were brilliant.

"Adam is extra special because of what happened and is the spitting image of Rob."

Julie added: "My dad is already spoiling him something rotten."

Rob's parents, Tom and Penny Lee, live in Southlands Road, York.

Mr Lee, 56, a postman, said: "Adam is our first grandchild and we are overjoyed."

Rob, who also played for York Acorn RL Club, was on his way to buy a tin of varnish from B&Q, in York, when the accident happened.

Julie, who sold her house at Barlby, near Selby, after the tragedy now plans to move into a new home, in Osbaldwick, only a couple of streets away from her father.

Updated: 10:32 Tuesday, February 24, 2004