THE start of the New Year marked the arrival of beautiful bundles of joy at the Royal Bolton Hospital’s Princess Anne maternity unit — a perfect beginning to 2009 for half-a-dozen mums.

Midwives were kept busy delivering babies just hours after New Year’s Day was heralded in.

Hannah York, aged 17, from Little Lever, gave birth at 3.01am to her first child — a baby girl, who weighed in at 7lbs 11oz.

Miss York said: “Her dad, Jamie Mawdsley, and I are still deciding on a name for her. But she is gorgeous and it really is a fantastic start to the New Year, we are just made up.

“She is being kept in the neo-natal unit for observation and I will be able to take her home in two days. She is doing well.

“Her arrival will make New Year’s Day extra special from now on.”

Just minutes later, baby Lola Yih was born weighing 7lbs 7oz.

And being born during the festive season seems to run in the family. For her one-year-old sister Chyna was born on Boxing Day and her dad Liam, aged 24, was born on New Year’s Day.

Mum Samantha Davenport, aged 29, from Little Lever said: “It is a very special start to the New Year. She is gorgeous.”

The arrival of 2009 saw the arrival of Lindsay and Mike Bottomley’s first child, Harrison. He was born at 4.02am weighing 7lbs 2oz.

Mrs Bottomley aged 28, who lives in Halliwell, said: “He was due on January 8, but I expected him on New Year’s Day.

“On New Year’s Eve he had me in and out of hospital twice. His arrival is a lovely way to mark the start of the New Year, it could not be better.”

Ward manager Kath Whitfield praised her staff for working over the holiday period. She said: “They are wonderful.

“They are apart from their families and so we bring the festive spirit into the ward and there is a lovely atmosphere throughout the unit.”

Matron for the delivery suite Jane Harper said: “It has been a busy start to 2009 and is set to get even busier as the maternity unit is extended and we embark on a new chapter.

“Like everybody, staff here have been affected by the flu virus and others have covered for them. There has been a great team spirit.”