Ref. 27739WHILE champagne corks popped and thousands of revellers welcomed in the New Year west Wiltshire's first baby of 2004 was born at the Royal United Hospital, Bath.

Harry Ieuan Copcutt was born at 1.48am on January 1, weighing 6lb 5oz, nearly a week before his due date.

Proud parents Nicola Grattidge and John Copcutt, from Melksham, are looking forward to getting home for some belated New Year celebrations to toast their new arrival.

Miss Grattidge said: "I think the midwives were having a bit of a race to see which could have the first baby of the New Year. I remember them rushing in after I had Harry and my midwife reporting he had been born and the next midwife then rushing past saying her patient's baby had been born at 1.50am.

"It was close but we just made it first."

Miss Grattidge's waters broke on Sunday, December 28 and she was induced late on New Year's Eve.

After days of waiting she was only in labour for around an hour and Mr Copcutt nearly missed the birth.

He said: "The midwives did not expect Harry to arrive so soon after Nicola was induced so I went home, and then turned around and raced back to the hospital.

"It was quite strange being out and about in the car at New Year and there were people all over the streets partying."

Baby Harry's name reflects his father's love of football.

Mr Copcutt said: "I am a big football fan so I was the one who chose to name him Harry after Harry Kewell who plays for Liverpool.

"Nicola is Welsh so she got to chose the second name, Ieuan, after letting me pick Harry."