A couple’s dream came true when their first child was born on New Year’s Day.

Keighley couple Sobia and Shaq Younas were expecting their baby girl to be born on January 3, but had been hoping for the birth to come earlier.

Mr Younas, 27, said: “We definitely wanted a baby on New Year’s Day. It’s a new year and a new start with a new family.

“We were happy with either a girl or a boy, it’s a blessing to us.”

Mrs Younas, 25, added: “We said to the baby, come on, you’ve only got a few hours to go until midnight!”

In the end, their daughter, who has not yet been named, was born at 11.35am at Airedale General Hospital weighing 6lb 7oz, after a labour of more than five hours.

The circumstance of the birth had an added poignancy for Mr Younas, as he works at the hospital as a biomedical scientist.

Meanwhile, a family welcomed their newest arrival only 12 minutes into the new year.

Proud parents Saima Rehman, 28, and Amjad Khan, 30, of Girlington, Bradford, had a surprise early delivery – and their daughter was the first baby to be born in Bradford in 2014.

The girl, who they have not named yet, arrived at 12.12am at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The couple said it was brilliant to have the city’s first baby of the year.

It is the third child for the Girlington family, after six-year-old son Sufyan and one-year-old daughter Rumaysa.

Mrs Rehman said: “It was a pretty short labour, she was pretty fast.

“She was due on the fourth, so she’s early. My family were pretty surprised.”

While the new-born baby was sleeping soundly yesterday morning after an eventful night, her mum had not yet slept a wink.

Mrs Rehman said: “I haven’t slept yet, I’m too excited. I don’t know how my little girl’s going to react.

“She’s one and she’s pretty pampered!”

The couple were also full of praise for the midwives in the maternity ward. Mrs Rehman said: “All the staff have been brilliant. They’ve been so helpful.”