AS TIFFANY was belting out her latest hit, new romantics were making way for the acid house revolution and women were desperate for the latest poodle perm and ra-ra skirt, a bumper crop of babies were being born across Worcestershire in what was the baby boom of 1988.

And this year, those bouncing babies - 693,000 nationally - will turn 18, a record number of people becoming adults in one year since way back in 1972.

Lynne Masters laughed as she recalled the year her son, Dan, was born. After a 10-year battle suffering endless IVF treatment she and her first husband Paul eventually joined the record number of people having a baby in 1988.

And, although the birth of Dan Day was obviously the most important thing that happened to her that year, Lynne, of Himbleton Road, St John's, Worcester, said images of big hair and floral patterns still flashed into her head when she thought back to that time.

"I was 31 when I had Dan and the 80s have always been precious to me. I remember I was a huge fan of Phil Collins and the hair and fashions were awful and hilarious.

"It is actually not that surprising to me that there was a bit of a baby boom. I wouldn't know why, but there were lots of pregnant mums around and the ante-natal classes were packed.

"When it came to Dan going to senior school it was really apparent. He couldn't go to the school we wanted him to because there was such a high demand for places. He managed to get into another school in Worcester, but a lot of his friends had to go to Malvern."

Dan is training to become a plumber and will celebrate his 18th birthday with a legal tipple of alcohol on Saturday, November 4.

"From looking at photos, the 80s seemed mad," he said. "They all wore weird clothes and had massive hair, so I can't see why so many babies were born!

"I know that Michael Jackson and Pete Burns from Celebrity Big Brother were around but I've never heard of Belinda Carlisle."

It was a time of baggy T-shirts and Bros

Mother-of-two Carmel Callaghan, of Christchurch Road, Malvern, said she didn't notice any particular demand for places at clubs and schools but that having a baby was quite different to two years previously, in 1986, when she had her first child.

"When Stephanie was born in 1988 so much had improved for mums-to-be. Baby equipment was getting loads better and maternity clothes were becoming fashionable, opposed to just functional.

"I was always wearing leggings and baggy T-shirts and having my hair cut shorter. I don't really remember having a particular favourite artist but Belinda Carlisle and Bros were definitely big in those days."

Her daughter Stephanie, who was born at Ronkswood Hospital on April 9 and is studying for her A-levels at Worcester's Royal Grammar School, said that looking back at photographs of her parents made her laugh but thought the 1988 baby boom could be a cause for concern.

"It is a bit worrying. There will be more demand for university places than usual."

l Head of Droitwich High School Sixth Form Rob Elmes agreed that the sheer volume of numbers could put more pressure on the county's 18-year-olds when they begin seeking a place at university.

"I did not witness an obvious increase in applications to come to the sixth form but there is a steady increase every year anyway as the trend for going into higher education grows every year.

"However, there was a scramble for university applications last year which could, coupled with the introduction of top-up fees in 2006, mean there were a lot more 17-year-olds applying for places than normal adding to the surge."