The New Year saw a double celebration for some couples as they welcomed the arrival of a baby. However, it was a triple celebration for Suri and Sony Paul from Stevenage. The couple, from Plash Drive. were celebrating the birth of baby Cynole. However, th

The New Year saw a double celebration for some couples as they welcomed the arrival of a baby. However, it was a triple celebration for Suri and Sony Paul from Stevenage.

The couple, from Plash Drive. were celebrating the birth of baby Cynole. However, they beat the odds as their son Noel was born on New Year's Day as well, in 2005.

Suri, a renal ward nurse, and Sony, an orthopaedic nurse, both work at Lister Hospital. Their baby girl Cynole was born weighing 6lb 13oz at 3.31pm.

The proud mother believed the two births on the same day of the year were meant to happen. She said: "She was due on January 16, but she came early!"

Helen O'Gilvie, 41, from Oaktree Close, Letchworth GC, also had a special story to tell. The mother said: "I had the option to see the sex of the baby. I had it sealed in an envelope at home, but I didn't look. We decided we wanted a surprise.

Both our children are IVF babies and we're very lucky to have them really as some people aren't as lucky as us."

Helen's was the first New Year's Day baby as she gave birth to Edward Robert, who weighed 7lb 10oz at 3.11am. Helen and husband Richard, 49, already have a son, George, aged three.

Kim Fenn, 29, and husband Christopher, 42, of West Street, Lilley, were next to welcome a New Year's Day baby. Their son, Carter Lewis Fenn, was born at 7.19am weighing 8lb 10oz. They already have a daughter, Olivia, aged 16 months.

Carter was originally due to arrive on Christmas Day, and mum Kim said: "He just had to make an entrance on some dramatic day!"

Baby Archie, weighing 6lbs 12ozs, arrived at 10.29am to Charlene James, 21, of Davison Court, Letchworth GC, and Dad Jamie Almonds, 29. Archie joins Jordan who is five years old.

Archie was originally due to arrive on Christmas Eve, but Charlene was glad he didn't as she joked: "Now I can get his birthday presents in the January sales!"

Claire Hubbard, 33, from Augustus Gate, Stevenage, gave birth to Charlie, who weighed 8lb 6oz, at 12.18pm. Claire and husband Andy, 34, already have a son, Jack, three, and, like the Fenn's, were expecting Charlie's arrival on Christmas Day.

Aisha Ghazi, 27, of Kimbolton Crescent, Stevenage, had the last of the New Year's Day births. Aisha and husband Ehsan were expecting baby Amen on January 3, but he entered the world at 9.40pm on Monday weighing 6lb 8oz.

All the New Year babies received presents from the maternity ward including Cynole's pink jumper, booties and gloves.