MIDWIVES across the North East delivered a sackful of Christmas babies.

In Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, the region’s largest maternity centre, seven babies were born early yesterday.

Mums-to-be were still expected to deliver throughout the day in what midwives said was a busy year.

It was also the first time Christmas day babies had been born at the RVI’s new Birthing Centre which opened earlier this year.

Proud parents David and Louise Bell, of Whitley Bay, welcomed their baby there at 8.35am, weighing 9lb 4oz.

The boy, who yesterday did not yet have a name, was a welcome addition to the family for Niamh, eight, Joseph, five and Elise, two.

Mum Louise, 37, an occupational therapist, said: “Our baby was due on December 16, but we’re pleased that he has arrived on Christmas Day – it’s a nice present for us.”

Special present Isobel Stout brought a smile to her family a day earlier than expected as she was the first girl to be born at the RVI that day, a little sister for Joe, 16, Natalie, 14, and Abbie, seven.

Parents Angela Baldwin, 33, and Shaun Stout, 31, welcomed Isobel into the world at 8.21am yesterday, weighing 7lb 5oz.

Dad Shaun, a joiner, of Wallsend, said: “It is the best Christmas present we could have asked for.”

Elsewhere, four babies were born on Christmas morning at Gateshead’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, with the first arriving at 12.23am, a baby boy for Adele Gibson.

One little girl called Lexie Storey, was born at Wansbeck General at 5.04am, weighing 6lb 9oz.

Two girls arrived in the morning at North Tyneside General. Brooke Blenkinsop was born at 2.04am, followed by Lily May Billings at 6.25am.

Rachel Evans, was born in the morning at Hexham General Hospital at 7.26am, weighing 7lb 8oz.

At Berwick Infirmary a baby boy was born at 1.37am, weighing 81b 2oz.