NINETEEN-year-old Lisa Hunt, of Young Street, Blackburn, was the first mother to give birth in 2003 in East Lancashire.

Baby Ellie Logan was born just 18 minutes into the year.

And Lisa was back at her Mill Hill home relaxing with doting dad Andy Logan, 22, and grandma Gail Logan, by 10am.

Beaming Lisa, who works as a care assistant at the Sisters of Nazareth nursing home in Preston New Road, Blackburn, said: "She's wonderful."

Dad Andy, a big Blackburn Rovers fan, joked: "She's definitely going to be supporting Rovers."

Another happy mum Julie Burke expected a Christmas baby but had to hold on for a week before baby Alexander Stewart made an appearance on New Year's Day.

Julie, 28, of Blackamoor Road, who works on the cosmetic counter at Debenhams, Blackburn, said: "I thought he was going to be a Christmas baby not a New Year baby.

"He just didn't want to come last year, he wanted this year."

And Alexander is going to be a perfect playmate, said big brother Lewis.

Lewis, nine, who got a computer for Christmas, said: "He's great. I'm going to teach him how to play computer games."

Tiny twin girls born eight weeks premature kept special care staff busy as the New Year's Day smiles were mixed with concern.

Nabila Kauser, of Downham Street, Blackburn, had the twins at 8am on January 1 at Queens Park Hospital.

And 2003 gave Musarat Shaheed, of Blackburn, number three, as her third child, a boy, was born at 3.08am on Wednesday.

Christine Hindle, clinical midwife lead on the ward, said that the numbers on the first day of the year was below average.

She said: "We feel it has been quite a quiet day. We average 12 babies a day throughout the year. We have known New Year to be a lot busier."