Babies across Bradford made sure nobody will ever forget their birthday by arriving on New Year's Day.

Maternity ward staff at Bradford Royal Infirmary were kept on their toes as they delivered 13 babies in the first 24 hours of 2003. Six more bouncing babies were born yesterday at Airedale General Hospital.

The first to appear was Zonaire Ahmed at 12.43am.

He was so keen to get into the world that he was born ten weeks premature, and was being cared for in the hospital's special care baby unit.

For Tahira Jabeen, 22, pictured, of Duckworth Terrace, giving birth to her 7lb 3oz boy on New Year's Day had extra significance.

"His uncle was born on New Year's Day and he wanted him to be born on the first as well, so he's happy about it," she said.

Unlike many of the other mums in the ward, Mrs Jabeen doesn't have to worry about coming up with a name for her son.

"His grandparents are thinking about that one," she said.

"It's their first grandchild so we are going to let them choose."

But Halima Pervaiz was putting her thinking cap on to come up with a name for her 6lb 13oz surprise package.

"He was supposed to be a girl, it was straightforward and all planned to call him Sophia Monica," said the 24-year-old mum from Heaton.

"Right from the beginning I thought he was going to be a girl, I got everyone else thinking the same, we were all convinced!"

Carole Wrigley, 32, from Raeburn Drive, Woodside, had no naming problems and is calling her 8lb 10z daughter Madison.

She already has a two-year-old son, Samuel, and has been training him to look after his new sister.

"He's been feeding his teddy bears every morning to get used to her," she said.

"He's very boisterous but hopefully he'll be OK and get on with her."

Just a few minutes before the Big Ben chimes at midnight, Debbie Markey, 30, of Gilstead, Bingley, went into labour and was rushed to Airedale General Hospital by her husband Simon. Their first son Benjamin, weighing 6lb 2oz, was born just after 5am. He was three weeks early.

Personnel assistant Debbie said: "It could not be more perfect - a new baby for the New Year. He is absolutely lovely. His father plays rugby for Bradford Salem and wants Benjamin to follow in his footsteps."

Debbie, who is originally from Ilkley, added: "I can't believe he has come so early.

"We were having a New Year's Eve meal at Clark's Restaurant in Heaton but made sure we were home in time to see in the New Year, which was just as well because that is when my waters broke. Suddenly, he was on his way and I forgot about the chimes.

"My husband had not been drinking luckily, so he drove me to the hospital and it was all over within four hours. It makes it very special to be born on New Year's Day."

Half an hour later, Shazia Nasar, 25, of Keighley gave birth to her first child at the hospital.

Shazia and her husband Nasar Hussain have not yet named their daughter, who weighed 5lb 12oz.