THE new year has already been made special for some with the arrival of the first babies born in 2019.

As people celebrated up and down the county, nervous new parents were rushing to Oxford's John Radcliffe hospital to bring new life into the world.

The midwifery team at the hospital had already delivered five babies when the Oxford Mail visited this morning and were expecting a total of 16 new arrivals by the end of the day.

Arriving at 12.45am, the first Oxfordshire baby of the year was Quinn Rafferty Weaver, who weighed 7lb 12oz.

Parents Helen and Daniel Weaver from Southmoor, near Abingdon, had been waiting since Christmas Eve for Quinn, their first child, to arrive.

Mr Weaver, 34, said: "He was a week and a day late.

"We think he was waiting around so he could take the crown of being the first of this year.

"We're delighted. We'd like to thank the team at the Spires Midwifery Unit for being so fantastic.

"They created the perfect atmosphere, we would recommend it to anybody."

Oxford Mail:

Cowley-based couple Ramesh Basnet and Melina Karkee-Basnet welcomed their new son, Roan, at 4am on New Year's Day.

Weighing 8lb 3oz, the couple's second child was a day early, having not been due until January 2.

Mrs Karkee-Basnet, 35, said: "We are really really happy.

"It's a lovely way to start the year, it makes it all that little bit more special."

Sophie Cundy was another early bird, being born at 2.29am, but she had kept her parents Emma Hawes and Lindsay Cundy waiting for two weeks before making an appearance.

Ms Hawes, from Long Crendon, near Thame, said: "It is a great way to start the year. It's her grandad's birthday on New Year's Eve so we thought she might come then but it's quite special to be one of the first of the year.

"She has lots of unopened Christmas presents waiting for her."

READ AGAIN: Christmas babies are the best gift at John Radcliffe Hospital 

Rhian and Matthew Sunderland, from Chalgrove, had been hoping for a quiet evening but that was scuppered when contractions started and their new girl, Phoebe, was born at 5am.

Mrs Sunderland said: "I had a bath and missed the fireworks.

"It feels a bit strange. I think we'll have to write off a few more New Year's Eves to come."