As the first fireworks blasted into the sky to signal the start of 2013, one Bradford mum started going into labour with her third child.

Rabia Mahmood, 28, of Girlington, is one of a handful of parents across the district who welcomed their new babies into the world on New Year’s Day yesterday.

The third-time mum hadn’t been expecting her new arrival until January 5, but it appears her son, who has yet to be named, was determined to be born on January 1, 2013.

Mrs Mahmood, who gave birth at Bradford Royal Infirmary, said: “I started to feel pain at exactly midnight. I could see the fireworks from my window and I started to cry.

“At around 12.30am I called the midwife and came straight in and had him at 3.32am.

“It was like the sort of story you read about in a magazine!”

The baby boy, who weighed 7lb, will be a little brother to Mohammad Hassan, five, and Mohammad Ahsaan, four. Mrs Mahmood and husband Nasir said their sons were excited about the new arrival and “couldn’t wait to get him home”.

Parents Emily Marsh, 24, and Rob Walters, 27, welcomed a baby girl at the same hospital, born by emergency caesarean section, at 6.10am.

The birth date of Olivia Jayne Walters, who weighed 6lb 14oz, was even more poignant for the couple as it fell on what would have been the 80th birthday of Miss Marsh’s grandad Derek Arthur Hill, who died five and a half years ago.

“For our family, New Year’s Day was always grandad’s birthday and we haven’t always known what to do,” said Miss Marsh, of Fairweather Green. “Now we have Olivia. We’re so happy she’s here and she’s going to be a very spoilt little girl!”

At Airedale Hospital, the first baby to be born in 2013 was Leonardo Adams, who was welcomed into the world at 2.14am, weighing 7lb 10oz.

His parents Olesya, 29, and Gary Adams, 44, of Oakworth, had been waiting patiently for the arrival of their first child since his due date, December 27.

Mr Adams said: “It was a case of waiting over Christmas, we had no idea he’d be born on New Year’s Day.

“It definitely makes it even more special – and he was the first baby to be born in the hospital.”

A few hours later, at 9.47am, Millie Rose Harris was born to first-time parents Rebecca, 30, and Jonathan Harris, 33, of Skipton.

Millie, who weighed in at 7lb 6oz, hadn’t kept them waiting long as they had been expecting her on New Year’s Eve. Mrs Harris said: “As the bells were chiming at midnight I was having contractions!

“I think having her on New Year’s Day makes it more special – a great start to the new year.”

Just 45 minutes later at 10.32am, Leonie and Anthony Allen, both 35, saw the arrival of their third child – Amy Elizabeth Allen.

The youngster, who weighted 8lb 1.5oz, is a new little sister to Holly, four, and Rosie, two. “I was induced on New Year’s Eve, so we knew she was coming,” Mrs Allen said. “It was definitely memorable!”