A Hereford family is the first to stage a new-style naming ceremony for their baby at the city's registry office.

Dave and Kate Matthews, of Attwood Lane, decided they wanted to celebrate and mark the birth of their son Jay five months ago, preferring the naming ceremony to a traditional baptism.

"It is a matter for individual families but neither of us are religious and we feel that Jay will have to make up his own mind when he is old enough," said Dave, a retail manager.

"We considered it not appropriate to baptise Jay when he is not old enough to know what it is all about.

"Somehow it seemed that would be meaningless, but we understand that others will feel differently.

"The important thing is that people do what they consider is right for themselves and their family.

"We were happy to celebrate Jay's birth and, as a happy coincidence, the ceremony came in the same week as my birthday and my sister's birthday."

Hereford Register Office confirmed that the naming ceremony, which has no religious connotations, was a new service being offered to families.