A total of 18 new babies were brought into the world on New Year's Day 2024.

Parents in East Lancashire were handed their very special bundles of joy just as the new year started, with the first baby being born at 12.39am.

A further nine came into the world right up until midday during a very busy morning for nurses and staff.

The remaining eight babies arrived throughout the afternoon and into the evening until the final baby of January 1 was delivered at 9.53pm. 

In all, 12 baby boys were born on January 1 and six baby girls. 

The tiny tots were born at Royal Blackburn Hospital, the Blackburn Birth Centre, and the Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre at Burnley General Hospital, which caters for families across Lancashire.

Lancashire Telegraph: Oliver James Craig StoreyOliver James Craig Storey (Image: Rebecca Storey)

Oliver James Craig Storey (above) came into the world at 12.39am.

Oliver was the first baby to be born on New Year's Day to parents Rebecca and Gary Storey from Fence, Burnley, and weighed in at a healthy 8lbs and 14oz.

Lancashire Telegraph: Athena-Rae Harriet HatchAthena-Rae Harriet Hatch (Image: Elizabeth Galloway)

Little Athena-Rae Harriet Hatch (above) was delivered at 1.26am weighing 7lbs 8oz, to parents Elizabeth Galloway and Jonathan Hatch from Darwen

Lancashire Telegraph: Elliott LewisElliott Lewis (Image: Katie Swindlehurst)

Bouncing into the world at 6.08am was Elliott Lewis.

Little Elliott was born to parents Katie Swindlehurst and Karl Lewis from Blackburn and weighed 7lbs and 1.58oz.

Lancashire Telegraph: Mohammed Zayaan VanzariaMohammed Zayaan Vanzaria (Image: Alisha Khan)

Stylish little Mohammed Zayaan Vanzaria (above) was born at 9.08am to Ismail Vanzaria and Alisha Khan and weighed 7lbs and 11oz.

Lancashire Telegraph: Muhammad Essa ZahidMuhammad Essa Zahid (Image: Noreen Nafeesa)

Tiny Muhammad Essa Zahid (above) entered the world weighing just 5lbs and 1oz at 6.42pm.

His parents Zahid Khurshid and Noreen Nafeesa are from Nelson.

Lancashire Telegraph: Amal Binte OsamaAmal Binte Osama (Image: Rubab Ali)

This little cutie, Amal Binte Osama (above), was born to Rubab Ali and Osama Bin Atiq from Blackburn and arrived at 9.52am weighing 6lbs and 1oz.

Lancashire Telegraph: Leo BenjaminLeo Benjamin (Image: Emma Hilton)

Gorgeous Leo Benjamin (above) was born at 8.21am to parents Tom and Emma Hilton from Burnley.

Leo weighed 6lbs and 6oz.

Lancashire Telegraph: Smija Sadanandan Pillai Smija Sadanandan Pillai (Image: Smija Sadanandan Pillai)

New mum Smija Sadanandan Pillai and dad Rahul Kalathil Veettil welcomed little Nyra Lakshmi into the world weighing 6lbs and 1oz at 12.31pm. 

Lancashire Telegraph: Ameera SaimAmeera Saim (Image: Kiran Ahmed Irfan)

This little cutie, Ameera Saim (above) was delivered at 7.28pm, weighing 7lbs 7oz, to proud parents Kiran Ahmed Irfan and Saim Danish from Blackburn.

Lauren Hodkinson and Ryan McAllister also welcomed their baby boy, Arlo McAllister into the world at 10.25am. Born seven weeks premature, Arlo is currently on the neonatal intensive care unit where he is being looked after by staff and midwives. 

Another eight babies were born at various times throughout the day, and we wish the new families a huge congratulations and all the best for the future.