15031/1GAZETTE & HERALD: TWO baby girls were welcomed into the world on New Year's Day at Chippenham Hospital's Greenways maternity unit.

The babies were both born on the first day of the year, the first at 8.50am and the second just before 2pm.

Laura Carr-Saunders had been in hospital for only seven minutes when her daughter Vanessa was born at 1.57pm.

"It was quite a shock for everyone, even the midwives," said Mrs Carr-Saunders, 34. "By the time I got there I had an urge to push. The only thing holding the baby in was my trousers.

Vanessa, who weighed 7lb 7oz, is the second daughter for Mrs Carr-Saunders and her husband James, who live at Humbolts Hold, Pewsham.

"Her sister Chiara is playing with her all the time," said Mrs Carr-Saunders.

And little Sophie Louise Archer, who was born in Bath on New Year's Day, arrived at the maternity unit to give her mum, Alison, time to recover before going home. Mrs Archer, who lives in Yate near Bristol with her husband Michael and daughter Victoria, three, said Sophie was born at 3.33am.

Mrs Archer chose to recuperate at Chippenham as she has friends and family close by.

Parents of the baby, born at 8.50am, did not wish to speak to the Gazette.

Hong Saint, manager of Greenways, said two babies was an average number for the unit.

"We see about 1,000 women a year, but only 300 of these are deliveries," said Mrs Saint.

"It's always special when babies are born on New Year's Day it's a lovely festive time."

As revellers toasted the start of 2005 there were celebrations as the first babies of the year were born at Swindon's Great Western Hospital.

Eight babies arrived on New Year's Day at the hospital this year.

First on the list was baby Bailey, born to Rosalind Robinson of Minety at 22 minutes past midnight.

Bailey was followed by Leah who was born weighing six pounds and one ounce at 2.42am.

Her parents Karen Garvey, 21 and Jake Evans, 31 of Eldene, said she was the best late Christmas present they could have wished for.

Baby Ashley was born weighing six pounds at 3.40am.

His mum Stephanie Hayes, 19, of Park South, described the birth as "horrible" but had the support of her partner Sean Moseley, who works at Nationwide, throughout.

She said: "Sean's very excited about being a dad and my mum and dad have come to visit already."

The last child to be born on New Year' s Day was Rhiannon, who arrived at 8.40pm weighing nine pounds.

His mum Kirstie Pinner, 21, of Walcot, who has two other children, Rebecca, four, and Marshall, two, was in labour for just an hour before she gave birth.