TWO North-East children are celebrating a very special birthday today.

The first North-East baby of the new millennium, Andrew Watson, of Ushaw Moor, near Durham City, will be celebrating his first birthday.

Andrew, who arrived three minutes and 15 seconds into the 21st Century, was Christened at Easter by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, the Right Reverend Ambrose Griffiths.

He was the fifth baby in the country to be born in the first few minutes of New Year's Day when he entered the world, a week late, at Durham's Dryburn Hospital, weighing 8lb 8oz.

His parents, Donna and Andrew, are planning to celebrate their son's birthday with a get-together for close family and friends.

Donna said: "He is great. He is walking around the furniture. He already has eight teeth and he is trying to talk.

"He is very tall for his age and and weighs about a stone and a half, so he is very big.

"I can't believe how the year has passed over. You wonder where it has gone.''

Meanwhile, Darlington's first millennium baby will also celebrate in style today.

Bethany Grace Bates came into the world at 1.12am on January 1, 2000, at Darlington Memorial Hospital, weighing 7lb 1oz.

Twelve months later, Bethany continues to grow and has begun taking her first tentative steps.

Her proud parents, Simon and Nicola, toasted their pride of joy last night while she slept soundly in her bed.

But she will be more aware of the special occasion later today when friends and relatives come to the couple's house, in the Lascelles area of Darlington.

Nicola, who is 23, said: "The first year has been better than we thought it would be because Bethany has been such a good baby.

"She can now walk - as long as she holds on to things - and we are all very proud of her.