STAFF have been celebrating the arrival of the first baby at the new University Hospital of North Durham.

Diane Henaghan, 35, gave birth to baby Beth shortly after 7am on Saturday, April, 7. She weighed a healthy 7lbs 5ozs.

Diane and her partner Steve Forsyth took their new daughter home just a few hours after she was born but she came back last week to meet Steven Mason, acting chief executive of North Durham Health Care NHS Trust.

He presented mother and baby with a bouquet and teddy bear to celebrate the occasion.

Diane, who runs for Morpeth Harriers, competed for Great Britain in Korea last year and was taking part in Olympic trials when she found out she was pregnant.

"I didn't run very well but it was the day after I found out I was expecting Beth," she said.

She went into labour on the Friday morning and was admitted to hospital at around 1am.

Beth is Diane's fourth child and joins Beau, 10, Paige, 8, and six-year-old Jake at the family home in Waldridge, near Chester-le-Street. The other children were born in Ashington Hospital.

Diane said: "It's nice, but there's no comparison with the facilities here."