STAFF have been celebrating the arrival of the first baby at the new University Hospital of North Durham.

Diane Henaghan, 35, gave birth to baby Beth shortly after 7am last Saturday at the hospital, in Durham City. She weighed a healthy 7lbs 5oz.

Diane and her partner Steve Forsyth took their new daughter home just a few hours after she was born but she returned this week to meet Steven Mason, acting chief executive of North Durham Health Care NHS Trust.

He presented mother and baby with a bouquet and teddy bear to celebrate the occasion.

Diane, who runs for Morpeth Harriers, competed for Great Britain in Korea last year and was taking part in 5,000m trials for the Olympics when she found out she was pregnant.

"I didn't run very well but it was the day after I found out I was expecting Beth," she said.

She went into labour last Friday morning and was admitted to hospital at about 1am.

Beth was born a few hours later and the new arrival was at home for tea time. Diane said: "I could have stayed in longer but I wanted to get home to show her off to the other children."

Beth is Diane's fourth child and joins Beau, ten, Paige, eight, and six-year-old Jake at the family home in Waldridge, near Chester-le-Street.

Diane said: "They all love her and take turns who is going to hold her. They're fascinated."

Diane, who used to live in Northumberland, gave birth to her other children in Ashington Hospital.

She said: "It's nice but there's no comparison with the facilities here.

"It's really beautiful and the rooms are great. I wanted to stay."