By Chris Irvine

Rachel Stewart is looking forward to starting school next year, even though she will celebrate only her first official birthday tomorrow.

However, the youngster is not a child prodigy - she is a "Leapling", a Leap Year baby.

Rachel was born on February 29, 2004, and is part of a select band of people who can officially mark their birthdays only once in four years.

But Rachel's parents, Lynette, 30, and James, 33, from Muirhead, near Crowwood, plan to treat their daughter like royalty this year.

Lynnette said: "She usually celebrates on the 28th, so she will probably have two birthdays this year - the 28th and 29th - just like the Queen.

"She tells strangers in the street she is a leap day baby."

The calendar year of 365 days is a quarter day behind the solar year. Adding a day once every four years keeps them in line, so the seasons always happen during the same months each year.

But the practice can cause problems for people born on February 29.

History teacher Laura Cheyne, from Crookston, Glasgow, was even refused entry to a nightclub as she celebrated her 18th birthday.

It was not a leap year so she was celebrating on February 28. She said: "I went out with a group of friends and when asked for ID I confidently passed over my student card.

"But I was refused entry as the stewards said my birthday was the day after February 28 and I was not 18!"

Laura will be 28 tomorrow, but has had only seven official birthdays.

She said: "There aren't many leaplings about and I find myself still having to explain the concept behind it to a lot of people.

"I get a lot children's cards saying I am only six or even adjusted cards that say six and a quarter."

Patricia Jordan, from Scotstoun, who will be 56 tomorrow, says being born on February 29 does have some advantages.

She said: "People take the mickey out of you. By the time I turned 40 they were saying I was really only 10!

"But every fourth year is special. Otherwise, I just celebrate my birthday on March 1."

Lyndsey Miller, from Johnstone, Renfrewshire, will be 24 tomorrow and says the confusion over dates can be frustrating.

The receptionist said: "I would not swap my birthday for another day because I love being different, but it can be a bit annoying when I am trying to get insurance online and it does not accept the date.

"Some companies say you can put March 1 as your birthday, but I find it just voids the transaction."