THE new decade brought some new year cheer for couples across the region as hospital delivery rooms saw some new arrivals.

Two of the first newborns of the year in Darlington arrived a week late – but in time for their new grandmothers’ birthdays.

Suzanne Hall and her partner, Andrew Kirkbride, both from Newton Aycliffe, celebrated the birth of their first baby, Genevieve, in Darlington Memorial Hospital at 6.09am.

Genevieve, weighing 6lb 6oz, was due on Christmas Day, but arrived the day before her grandmother’s birthday.

Ms Hall said: “I was just relieved.

It’s our first girl. And I still got to see the fireworks out of the window of the delivery ward.”

Stephanie Bowes’ baby had also been due on Christmas Day, but her and partner Lee Williams’ second daughter, Holly Grace, arrived at 8.30am yesterday.

Ms Bowes’ mother, Janet, was born on New Year’s Day.

Holly, 7lb 4oz, is a sister to three-year-old Paige.

Ms Bowes, from Darlington, said: “It’s a brilliant start to the new year.”

Mr Williams said: “She’s a little diamond.”

Also in Darlington, Maria Trotter, from Shildon, gave birth to her and partner David Robinson’s daughter, Keria Louise.

“She wasn’t due until January 6. My mum said it would be Christmas Day, but I just knew it would be on New Year’s Day,” said Ms Trotter.

“As soon as the clocks chimed, the contractions started. I’m really pleased that she is here.”

Francesca and Andrew Johnson became parents for the fourth time at 8.18am yesterday when Charlotte Lily, weighing 9lb 5oz, arrived at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

The couple, from Bishop Auckland, have three sons – Samuel, 11, Ashley, five, and one-year-old Lewis.

Mrs Johnson, 40, said: “We had been planning for a daughter for a while, so we are really happy to have our little girl now.

“It is really nice that she was born on New Year’s Day.”

Casey James Treen was born six weeks early at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, to parents Kayleigh Cook, 24, and Michael Treen, 26, from Guisborough, east Cleveland.

He arrived at 2.29am, weighing 5lb 4oz.

Miss Cook said: “We saw in the New Year on the TV and then the next thing I knew he was coming.

“It’s all a little bit chaotic and I’ve had no sleep for about four days, but it’s fantastic that he’s here.”

Grace Smith rang in the new year at 12.33am at The University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton.

Weighing 5lbs 13oz, she is the first child for Kerrie Foster and Stuart Smith, from Hartlepool.

Another new arrival on the ward was Amber Kushnirenko weighing 8lbs, who was born at 5.33am to Keeleigh Harding and Robert Kushnirenko.

It was touch and go as to whether Paul Heslop, 34, and his wife, Sarah, 33, would be able make it to hospital for the birth of their third child.

Mr Heslop, a lecturer in the mathematics department at the University of Durham said when his wife went into labour the weather made them concerned about the journey from their house in Coxhoe, near Durham City.

He said: “There were cars getting stuck in the street outside.

In the end we managed to get through without any problems.”

At 17 minutes past midnight Isaac was born at The University Hospital of North Durham, weighing 8lbs 2oz.

Mr Heslop said: “He was due on January 3, but arrived a day or two early.”

Isaac has two siblings, Jonathan, three and one-year-old Micah.