THE first baby of New Year's Day at Bishop Auckland Hospital was born at 5.43am.

Clare Latcham gave birth to Euan, her second child, who had been due two days earlier. Her partner John Paul Scott was there to see the birth and cut the cord.

The 23-year-old mum wasted no time in returning to her home in Chilton, where three-year-old Kyle was waiting to see his new baby brother.

The new mum was looking forward to a rest after spending New Year's Eve in hospital. She said: "He was the first one born on the ward this year and that makes him even more special."