THE first day of the new year was a joyful occasion for a number of parents who were celebrating the birth of new sons and daughters.

Midwives and nursing staff at Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford, had their hands full on January 1 as the first newborn arrived at 2.12am.

Harry McCann weighed in at 7lb 7oz, much to the delight of mum Cathleen Harbison and dad Alan McCann, from Gravesend.

Emma Waters, from Gravesend, gave birth to 5lb 1oz Lewis at 6.30am.

Midwife Rebecca Latter, from Cedar maternity ward, said: "Everyone was quite excited we had two births early in the morning.

"It was quite busy but the atmosphere was amazing."

Kerry Goodwin and Rhys McAllister, from Gravesend, became proud parents of 8lb 10oz Taylor at 7.45am and by 10.30am Karen Hill and Sean O'Keefe, from Swanley, were holding baby Kai, who weighed 7lb 4oz.

Midwives expect to deliver almost 3,000 babies at the hospital this year.