A WOMAN who has been involved with the Battle of Flowers since the age of five is expecting a baby on the day that the flowers arrive for this year’s parade – and she is desperate to be out of hospital in time for the big event.

Sarah Siddiqui (née Poisson) (34) has been married to Shabir – who is known as Vicky – for almost two years and says that while she is getting excited about her first born, the day it is due to arrive is a ‘bit inconvenient’.

Born in Jersey, Sarah, who works in banking, was on her first float at the age of five in 1979. Made by Mary Bidan and Friends it was called Just One Cornetto and saw her wearing a pink dress and riding on the float.

‘I did a few floats with Mary, but she then had a break for a couple of years. During that time I did my only paper float, at the age of 12, with St John’s Youth Club. It had a pop music theme and I was dancing on it dressed as one of the Rockettes,’ said Sarah.