HELME Chase, Westmorland General Hospital's maternity unit, saw plenty of action on New Year's day with four babies being born in the space of 12 hours. Helen Hartley, Kendal, was the first to give birth to a baby boy at 3.15am; Amanda Turnbull, Kendal, had a baby girl at 6.30am; Susanne Kirk, Levens, had a baby boy at 9.01am; and Catherine Mathie, Kendal, had a baby boy at 3.15pm. Senior midwife Angela Oxley said the hospital was full to bursting in comparison to Christmas day, which had been quiet. "It is really unusual for Helme Chase as we have under 300 births a year here. It was our best ever New Year's Day," she said.