JOSHUA Luc Dixon became the first baby in the country to be officially named at a non-religious ceremony yesterday.

The register office service was held in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, in the wake of a government report highlighting ways in which parents could demonstrate their long-term commitment to a child.

The recent report encouraged the development of naming ceremonies and suggested they could play a vital role in strengthening an extended family.

Proud parents Kirsten and Carl Dixon had six-week-old Joshua named in the company of friends and family and said they were delighted with the ceremony.

Mr Dixon said: "I would recommend this to anybody who wants this kind of ceremony but maybe doesn't think the church ceremony is right for them."

North Yorkshire County Council chiefs are hoping the civil ceremonies, offered in partnership with Lifecycle Marketing, will go on to prove a major success.

Stuart Pudney, head of trading standards and regulatory services in North Yorkshire, said: "We are at the forefront of this new initiative. We recognise that parents are looking for more choice in naming their child and believe this will be popular."

He added: "It is important, however, to remember that these ceremonies are secular and will not contain religious references."