FOR a handful of new parents, Christmas Day certainly was an extra special day.

Eight babies were delivered on December 25 at Basingstoke hospital.

Freya Waissen made her bow at just after 11am. Proud parents, Lee, 31, and Selina Payne, 28, said that 5lbs 8oz Freya was the perfect Christmas present.

Lee said: “It really was an excellent present. At first, I didn’t want it to be Christmas Day or Boxing Day but when she was born, it really didn’t matter at all.”

Eli William Stone was born at 9.40am. Mum Hannah Dyde, 24, from Tadley, and dad Clifton Stone, 26, said they could not be happier. “It was only on Boxing Day that everything sunk in. It has made Christmas extra special for us.”

And for new mum Cavina West, 25, she managed to fit in two celebrations on the day. Her son Jack was born at 8.23am, and she was home in Buckskin, Basingstoke, eating Christmas lunch with her family and partner Lee McCoy, 26, by 2pm.

Dad Lee said: “The whole of the day I kept thinking that I would wake up and it would be a dream. We really didn’t think he would come on Christmas Day.”