EAST Lancashire’s first babies of 2011 were welcomed into the world by parents beaming with pride on New Year’s Day.

Eleanor Heginbotham was born at 2.41am at Blackburn Birth Centre, weighing a 7Ib 10oz.

Mum Gemma, 31, a doctor from Belthorn, had expected to give birth on December 21.

But the couple, who already have an 18-month-old girl, Isabel, said the newest addition to their family was well worth the wait.

Dad Andy, 37, said: “It's been an eventful New Year, that’s for sure.

“We’ve been on pins since before Christmas, we couldn’t relax.”

At the £32million new Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre in Burnley, Asmaa Waris and Sohail Ahmed celebrated the birth of their daughter Laaibah Mehreen Ahmed, weighing 7lb 7oz, at just 10 minutes after midnight.

Mr Ahmed, from Burnley, said: “She was 13 days overdue, she must have wanted to be born on New Year’s Day.

“Hopefully it will bring her plenty of good luck for years to come.”

Also on the ward, Lisa and Miles Whitfield were delighted by the arrival of their son Koeban, weighing 4lb 8oz.

Fiona and Nigel Burns named their daughter, weighing 6lbs 15oz, April.

And Nafisa and Imtiaz Chaka celebrated the arrival of their son, weighing 4lb 8oz.