GLOWING mother Lisa Lee, 29, had the perfect present on Christmas day when she gave birth to her son Nathanial.

Mrs Lee of Alderton Way, Trowbridge, was taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath just before midnight on Christmas Eve.

She had 18 hours of contractions and her husband Michael was with her during the birth.

The baby was due on December 25th, and he arrived on time at 7.37pm.

Mrs Lee said: "It's my first child and it's absolutely lovely. It's the best Christmas present I could have ever had."

"The pregnancy went very smoothly, but I'm tired now. I was due to be induced on December 27, but thankfully I didn't have to wait until then."

Nathanial weighed in at 7lb 4oz and Mrs Lee was hoping to bring him home yesterday.

Mr and Mrs Lee were married in 1998 and they are both civil servants for the Ministry of Defence in Bristol. Mr Lee cannot wait until Nathanial is old enough to kick a ball.

"His dad would like him to play professional football for Barcelona when he grows up," said Mrs Lee.

"He's a really big fan so he would be delighted if he played for his team."

Both sets of grandparents have been to see the new addition to the family, and Mrs Lee is now looking forward to going home.

Another family celebrating a new arrival on Christmas Day was the Brown family from Barnack Close, Trowbridge.

Cheryl and Adrian Brown celebrated the arrival of baby Chloe at 7.08am on Christmas Day. She weighed 6lb 7oz.

Mrs Brown, who works in the development kitchen at apetito, said: "She was due on December 14 so she was 11 days late. We'd been saying all along she was waiting for Christmas Day. I was still home in time for Christmas dinner."

Chloe is the family's second child and the new baby has been welcomed by 12-year-old daughter Danielle.

"She is already negotiating babysitting rates," said Mrs Brown.

Mrs Brown made her way to hospital at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve after labour pains started earlier in the day.

"Staff at the hospital were brilliant and the Salvation Army sang and gave us a present," she said.

"We'd like to say thank you to everyone. It was a great present."