SALISBURY parents have received the best Christmas presents and start to the new year after their babies were born on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

The maternity unit at Salisbury District Hospital was busy welcoming six new arrivals on Christmas day, three boys and three girls.

One new mum, Becky Heighton, gave birth to her “miracle baby” Arabella Rose, weighing 7lb 6oz, at 7.08am on Christmas morning. Arabella is Becky’s, and partner Solomon’s, first child and Becky said she was “the best Christmas present” the South Newton couple could have received.

“She was due on New Year’s Eve, but she picked the other big day to arrive,” Becky said. “She’s a little miracle, because we didn’t think we could have children, so she is fabulous in that respect.”

Becky said she was pleased Arabella had arrived on Christmas Day because “it will be a lovely day each year, where she will always have all her family around her”. But she said she “will have to make sure Arabella’s birthday is celebrated properly too”, adding: “Maybe she will have to have two birthdays, like the Queen.”

Becky said Arabella was a “special baby on a special day”, and that they were both doing well at home.

“All is good, and she is healthy and doing brilliantly,” she added. “We are just adjusting to the lack of sleep.”

Nine babies arrived at the hospital as the new year started, with eight girls and one boy born on January 1.

Tidworth couple Samantha and Thomas Brewin are the proud parents of the first baby born in Salisbury in 2018, Jorgie Winter Brewin.

Jorgie was born at 1.24am, weighing 6lbs 15oz, after Samantha’s waters broke at about 9pm on New Year’s Eve. Jorgie is the couple’s first baby and Samantha said she was not aware of 2017 ending during her labour, but said: “It’s just nice that she has got that little status really, it was a bit of a surprise.”

Cara Charles-Barks, hospital chief executive, praised Salisbury staff for their hard work, and thanked them for their “commitment and professionalism over the festive period”.