It was a double New Year celebration for proud parents across the region as they welcomed in 2012 with the arrival of their own bundles of joy.

Little Charlie Pick entered the world just six minutes into the New Year to the sound of fireworks going off outside Dudley’s Russells Hall Hospital.

His proud parents Victoria and Steven, of Beech Close, Sedgley, said they had been able to see the colourful displays lighting up the sky through a window as their second son was born.

His birth had been expected five days previously but his parents said they joked that Charlie had wanted to make a “grand entrance”.

Mr Pick, 28, who works as an insurance broker, said: “It was amazing. We could see and hear the fireworks going off as he was being delivered.

“As entrances go I don’t think you could get much better than that.”

Mrs Pick, a 26-year-old office worker, who also has 18-month-old son Thomas, said: “He is a little young to understand what is happening but I am sure he will make his little brother welcome.”

Mrs Pick said she was delighted her son was the first baby to be born at the hospital in 2012.

Also arriving with the New Year was a baby boy for parents Christian and Sarah Palmer, of Marlowe Close, Kidderminster. The youngster, who has not been yet been named, arrived just after 3am on Sunday weighing in at 9lbs 8oz and was six days earlier than expected.

He is the couple’s third child and the couple said his two brothers Camryn, eight, and six-year-old Harrison were looking forward to meeting their new sibling.

Mrs Palmer, 35-year-old secondary school teacher at the Wood Green Academy, in Wednesbury, said: “He is the first of my children to be born early.”

Mr Palmer, a 38-year-old sales rep, said: “We are very proud of him.”

Six baby boys and five girls were born in Walsall on New Year’s Day.