It was a very busy Christmas Day on the maternity wings of Bradford Royal Infirmary and Airedale General Hospital with more than twice as many babies making their way into the world compared to the same day last year.

In total 12 girls and four boys were born at Bradford, of these, two boys and two girls were born at the birth centre.

The first baby in the district arrived in Bradford at 00.41am.

At Airedale, three boys and two girls were born this Christmas making a busy day for staff.

Jenna-Marie Verity and her partner Jamie Wood, from Tong, welcomed their second daughter Savanna Belle weighing 7lbs 4oz at 8.34am at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

“She was due today so we are thrilled. Her big sister, Sienna Rose, who is five, loves her. She seems very content.” said Miss Verity.

Also arriving on Christmas Day was Reyah Khan, weighing 6lbs 3oz and is the second daughter of Sarmad and Nargis Khan, of Heaton.

She arrived four days early at 5.46am.

“Her older sister, Ayra, who is only two, has been very excited. She hasn’t seen her yet and I think she may think she’s a doll,” said Mrs Khan.

The first baby to arrived on Christmas morning at Airedale General Hospital was Jude McCash, a first baby for David and Danielle McCash, of Barnoldswick.

He was born at 2.58am weighing 9lbs 8oz.

“He was really late and was due 10 days ago. I was induced on Friday and he still didn’t want to arrive until today.

“It’s been a long slog but it was so worth it. We are absolutely thrilled,” said Mrs McCash.

Also at Airedale, Emma Shaw and Wayne Baker, of Glusburn, welcomed baby Ella who was due on New Year’s Eve but decided to make an early entrance weighing 8lbs 2oz.

Ella’s big brother, Jacob, three, said he was glad she was here and looked forward to going home so he could hold her.

Midwife in charge at Airedale, Angie Fairclough said: “It was a very busy morning for us but it has been another lovely day.

“Christmas Day is always special.”

Staff, apart from those in theatre, on the maternity wing in Bradford wore their customary Christmas fancy dress outfits as they went around their nursing duties on what turned out to be a very busy day.

Kath Nolan, in charge on Christmas Day at Bradford said: “It is a lovely atmosphere on Christmas Day here.”

In May last year the award winning midwife-led birthing unit welcomed a visit by HRH Princess Anne in her role as patron of the Royal College of Midwives.

The visit, including a tour of the birthing pool room, gave BRI the chance to showcase the work being done at its maternity unit.