MIDWIVES and proud parents celebrated the perfect Christmas gift as three babies were born at Hereford County Hospital on Christmas Day.

Three babies – two girls and a boy – were born on December 25, with the first now back at home settling in to life with their parents.

Skyler Roze Lea-Buckley was born at 8am, weighing 8lb 2oz. Her mother Colette Northam, 33, said her newborn is cool, calm and collected.

"She was actually due Christmas Eve but I was taken into hospital to be induced," she added.

"I ended up having an emergency caesarean on Christmas morning, but all the staff were lovely and really helpful."

Skyler is Miss Northam's first child with her partner Shane Buckley, and they are back at the family home in Hereford.

The second baby girl was born at the hospital shortly after 10am, weighing 7lb 15oz, and the baby boy kept his parents waiting until he was born at 7.16pm, weighing 8lb 1oz.

Midwife Abbi Maddox said: "It was a delight to celebrate with the proud parents the arrival of our special Christmas babies born at Hereford County Hospital.

"Christmas babies have a very special birthday and our babies received knitted Christmas hats."

The hats were made by Meghan Jacobs and Julia Thornber – and the Christmas babies also received special personalised baubles made by the maternity team.

"Our midwifery and health visiting teams continue to provide specialist support when parents and their baby return home, which ranges from practical breast feeding advice on the maternity ward and at home, nappy changing, bathing your baby, through to personalised care, support and advice," Miss Maddox added.