An expectant mother is under strict orders not to give birth until July 9 - to help her husband win a unique World Cup bet.

Diana Harvey, 29, is looking forward to tackling motherhood on the exact date the nation hopes England captain David Beckham will lift the most famous trophy in soccer.

To make the day even more memorable, her husband Stuart has placed a wager that the two events will coincide.

If Diana does give birth on July 9 and England win the World Cup, the couple will net £3,000.

Stuart, 31, of Lower Church Road, Burgess Hill, is confident that not only will the team sweep aside all challengers to win the cup for the first time since 1966 but he will also be celebrating with the birth of his first child.

He said: "The idea is to get the baby out in the morning of the World Cup final day and then have the curry and Champagne ready in preparation for the final, assuming we're in it of course.

"I think our chances are as good as any, on our day we're a match for anyone. So I'm quite optimistic.

"In fact I'm more optimistic about the football than the baby being born on that day.

"It is our first and the midwives are saying there's only a five per cent chance of them getting the day right. The odds aren't so good"

Customer services advisor Diana, who is seven and a half months pregnant, said: "Even if England do win and our baby is a boy, we won't be naming him after a footballer."

England begin their campaign in Germany on Saturday, June 10, against Paraguay and there are about 60 games in total to be played before the final in Berlin.

Original scans suggested the baby could miss out on being born on July 9 by 24 hours and a later examination also predicted July 10 but the couple decided to contact the bookmakers.

Placing a £20 wager, Stuart has been given odds of 150-1 that the two events will occur on the same day.

The couple have also agreed the birth will be as natural as possible and not induced to bring it forward.

Warehouse manager Stuart said: "Diana's supporting it because I'm not that much of a gambler.

"We just decided to inquire with William Hill about the odds of the baby arriving on the same day as England lifting the World Cup and go for it.

"I'm a Liverpool supporter and if Steven Gerrard is on form and Jamie Carragher doesn't score any own goals we should have a good chance."

Graham Sharpe, of William Hill, said: "This bet definitely has all the qualifications to become the daddy of all World Cup bets."

William Hill said they had received a host of "wacky bets" in preparation for the football tournament.

England fans who are gambling on them winning, at seven-to-one, are even betting on what haircut David Beckham will sport in the Paraguay game.

He is 3-1 favourite to turn up with a close crop or shaved head, 4-1 to reintroduce the Alice Band style, 5-1 to be spikey and 6-1 for a mullet.