THERE was Christmas joy in East Cornwall for two sets of proud parents whose babies arrived — on Christmas Day, writes Alison Stephenson.

Emma Stedwill and Peter Ferguson's son Olly arrived at 4.52am and Rachel and Steve Machin's baby boy Cass came into the world at 2.15pm.

Olly was born at Derriford Hospital at 4.52am, weighing 6lb 7ozs, a little bundle of joy for first-time parents Emma and Peter, who live at Harrowbarrow.

The baby was due on December 22 but held on until Christmas Day: 'I was hoping the baby would not come on Christmas Day but he did and he's the best Christmas present we could have had,' said Emma.

'I felt a bit funny on Christmas Eve but I pottered around and tried to ignore it.

'We went to my partner's parents for a Christmas meal in the evening and it was then that I knew the baby was going to come either that night or on Christmas Day.'

Christmas dinner at Emma and Peter's house was postponed to New Year's Day and baby Olly is settling in well.

'He is as good as gold,' added Emma. 'He is settling into a routine well and he is a very content little baby. When he's awake he just sits there and looks at you.'

Emma, who is more used to handling lizards as manager of the Tamar View Aquatics Centre at Saltash, said lizards were known for being quick off the mark, so to hold her baby was like a dream in comparison.

Meanwhile a family of three has become four at St Ann's Chapel after Cass Machin was born at Okehampton Hospital.

Weighing in at 8lb 11ozs, Cass is a brother for two and a half year old Frankie and the second child of Rachel and Steve Machin, an RE teacher at Tavistock College.

At 6am on Christmas Day Frankie was awake and ready to open his Christmas presents and it was just over an hour later that Rachel went into labour.

'I don't know how I managed to eat, but I had smoked salmon for breakfast,' she said.

'I realised pretty quickly that I would not be having Christmas dinner but I was out of hospital the next day so we had it on Boxing Day instead.'