EAST Lancashire's first millennium baby arrived just 23 minutes into the New Year.

Nancy Eleanor Pinner was born at Fairfield Hospital, Bury to Rawtenstall couple Gill McKee and Jon Pinner.

"She came a couple of days early but we are absolutely delighted," said proud father Jon.

"There was a photographer from the national press waiting outside the delivery suite," laughed Gill, a copywriter at Rawtenstall-based ad agency Ignition.

Nancy, who weighed in at 6lb 13, is the couple's first child.

Jon, a fireman on white watch Nelson, was supposed to be working on New Year's Eve. "I had expected to be stuck at work away from all the excitement on New Year's Eve.

"But I've switched jobs to Blackburn for the time being and that meant luckily I had the night off.

"We could hear all the fireworks going off at midnight but it passed us by really.

"We had other things on our mind at the time!"

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