Christmas Day babies welcomed to the world

While familes across the West Midlands and Staffordshire were unwrapping their festive gifts and tucking into their turkey and trimmings, maternity wards were welcoming the births of Christmas babies.

The first baby to be born on Christmas Day at Walsall Manor Hospital was Elizabeth Mark, at 2.05am. Weighing 7lb 14oz, Elizabeth had been due to arrive on January 12, but arrived early to the delight of her parents Mary and Jamie. Mrs Mark, a Homeserve worker from Reedswood, Walsall, said: "I was expecting it to happen on Boxing Day so it was quicker than expected, but it's really nice to have a Christmas baby." Kelly and Darren Doherty's daughter Mia was born at 3.10am weighing 6lb 12oz. Mrs Doherty, 34, of Goscote, Walsall, said it was a shock as the baby had not been due until January 7.

She added the Christmas period would be extra special for her and computer engineer husband Darren, 40, as their two-year-old daughter Lily was born on December 29. Ola and Yoriola Ishola are waiting seven days to hold a naming ceremony for their son, as part of tradition in Nigerian culture.

The couple, of West Bromwich, were also considering calling him Tunde, after Mr Ishola's father, who died recently.

Mr Ishola, 37, a civil engineer and his wife, a 27-year-old nurse at the Priory in Edgbaston, said they were "delighted" to have a Christmas baby.

Junior was born at 4.12am weighing 6lb 4oz, having been due on December 22. The couple said they were looking forward to getting him home with their other children Alice, seven, Aliana, three, and Aliyah, one.

Vineeta Sharma, 26, of Birchills, Walsall, gave birth to her daughter, who has not yet been named, at 6.57am. She was due on December 29 and weighed 7lb.

Also celebrating a new arrival were Natalie Bryan and Dean Whitehouse, who welcomed their baby into the world at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital.

Mother-of-two Natalie had been due to give birth to her third child on Christmas Eve but was a day late to have her own December 25 baby. The couple are still to confirm a name for the new born who weighed in at 6Ib 4oz at 10.35am yesterday.