Last updated at 13:39, Friday, 04 January 2013

A Cockermouth couple won’t forget New Year’s Day 2013.

First baby of the new year: Abigail and Mark Connolly, of Gote Brow, Cockermouth, with New Year’s Day baby Francesca Rose and proud big sister Robyn, seven

Abigail and Mark Connolly, of Hames Bank, Gote Brow, celebrated the new year with the arrival of a baby daughter.

Francesca Rose, weighing 8lb 11oz, was born in the West Cumberland Hospital at 9.09am after a five-hour labour for Abigail, 31.

Mark, 33, a police officer for the Civil Nuclear Constabulary at Sellafield, and Abigail, who works for the Rural Payments Agency in Workington, have another daughter Robyn, seven.

Mark said: “Robyn is absolutely over the moon as she has been looking forward to being a big sister for a long time.

“The labour went really well and I stayed to support throughout.

“Abigail started with contractions at 3.45am and we went into hospital about 6am.

“We didn’t know what the baby would be so it was a nice surprise.

“We chose her first name because we’ve always loved it. Her middle name Rose comes from my grandmother who’s called Rose. It’s a big family name.”

First published at 13:23, Friday, 04 January 2013
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk