15288/04Little Reisha Chesterman is the first baby to be born at Malmesbury Maternity Unit since it reopened on January 17.

She was born at 12.17pm on January 23, weighing seven pounds, to parents Meena and Steve Chesterman. It marked a proud day for the Tetbury couple, who also have a three-year-old daughter Shanii, and staff at unit.

The Malmesbury unit and its counterpart in Devizes were reprieved from closure by the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust last year, to allow officials carry out a further review into the units' future.

But in December the trust was forced to shut the Malmesbury unit for six weeks because of staff shortages.

Some 17 mothers who were booked for delivery at Malmesbury, were asked to go instead to either Chippenham Community Hospital, or Bath's Royal United or Swindon's Great Western hospitals.

Ms Chesterman was due to give birth on January 16 and was concerned when she heard the unit was closing for six weeks.

She was delighted to be able to give birth at Malmesbury and said the midwives who cared for her there were brilliant.

"They made me feel very comfortable," she said. "There is a very relaxed, cosy and homely feel about the Malmesbury Maternity Unit. The staff really put you at ease.

"In some hospitals they leave you on the ward while at the Malmesbury unit you get the personal touch. I would definitely recommend it to other mums."