Ref. 74411-20 Karen Garvey with LeahAS revellers toasted the start of 2005 there were very different reasons to celebrate at the hospital as the first babies of the year were born.

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.

"I had had contraction pains all day on New Year's Eve then I went into hospital at 7.30 in the evening to have my waters broken," said Karen.

"I kept falling asleep during the labour so they put me on a hormone drip to induce the contractions.

"She's so beautiful and seems like a quiet baby."

Jake, who works for a manufacturing company, said: "I was very excited but quite shocked that Karen had a girl because right the way through I said I thought she would have a boy.

"I can't wait to bring her up and teach her everything I know."

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: "Ashley was not due until a day later so he was early.

"The contractions started while I was in bed asleep after going to my boyfriend's house for New Year's Eve.

"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.

Her 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.

She said: "We thought I might give birth on Christmas day because the baby was due on December 27.

"It's quite funny because this baby was born on the first of the first and my other daughter was born on the eighth day of the eighth.

"She is my third so I have had a bit of practice but the labour was still quite hard."

Her partner, proud dad Geoff Stokes, was on hand to give her a helping hand.

Diana Milne