A TAVISTOCK family are 'on top of the world' after baby Eloise Margaret Hannah Fleet arrived on New Year's Day — nine days before her due date.

Eloise was born at home in Priory Close, weighing 7lb 10ozs, a baby sister to Abigayle, aged three and a half.

Her parents, Lucianne and Adam Fleet, said they were 'exhausted but jubilant' after the 16-hour labour.

Not expecting the baby to arrive for at least a week, Adam and Lucianne had gone to friends to celebrate New Year but contractions began that evening.

Lucianne said: 'I went to bed but kept waking up. The contractions continued in the morning but it was obvious the baby was not going to come in a hurry.

'We called the midwife later that day but when she examined me she did not think the baby would be coming that day.'

But the baby had other plans and by 10pm midwife Sonya Watson was back and one and a half hours later Eloise had arrived, by water birth and a lot of hard work by mum, of course.

'Sonya was wonderful,' said Lucianne. 'I was getting hysterical by the time she arrived and she really calmed me down. I did not have any drugs but I'm glad I didn't because I felt so much more conscious of what was going on.

'Abi was running around the whole time and taking it all in her stride.

'She kept coming and asking how I was and helping get things. She was brilliant and it was very special that she could be there at the birth. She completely adores her baby sister.'

Lucianne also praised second midwife Denise Bedford who came to help out even though she was not on duty, and said husband Adam was wonderfully supportive.

Proud dad Adam, a freelance sustainability consultant, said he was the typical 'frazzled father' but absolutely delighted with his new baby daughter.

'One of the first things I am going to do is campaign to keep these fantastic midwives who allow home births to happen as their role is under threat.

'I cannot recommend highly enough about having a baby at home, with everything around you that is so familiar. It really was a wonderful experience.'