CHRISTMAS Day could not have been any better for one Exbourne family — they welcomed the birth of their baby boy.

Corey Davies was born at 1.53am and weighed 8lb 15 ounces. He was the first baby to be born on Christmas Day at Okehampton Hospital in ten years.

Proud father, motor mechanic Gareth Davies, said: 'We are really happy. Corey is amazing, we couldn't have asked for a better Christmas.'

Tracy Davies, a part-time shop assistant, said Corey arrived a day early but was a welcome surprise: 'Corey was a lovely Christmas present for all the family. He was meant to be born on Boxing Day but he came a day early.

'He means so much to us, it is something we have been waiting for for a long time.'

Tracy and baby were home on Christmas morning and even managed to get to her mother's for Christmas dinner: 'I was out of the hospital by 11.30am and went to my mum's for dinner that evening.'

Tracey and Gareth's three year-old daughter Kady was just as happy to welcome the new arrival to the family: 'I love my new baby brother.'