Mum Nina Hare had an extra Christmas present today – a baby girl who arrived 18 days early.

Little Anaya was born at 2.10am at Bradford Royal Infirmary, where Nina had been on the maternity wing since the early hours of Christmas Eve.

Nina, 29, of Wakefield Road, Bradford, said: “I’m clapped-out but really happy – the staff have been fantastic.”

Anaya, named after the Arabic word for graceful, was not due until January 12, and weighed 5lb 10oz.

Nina, who is training to be a driving instructor, has two other children, eight-year-old Mariya and seven year-old Ihsaan.

She said: “They have been so excited. My little girl thinks her new sister is going to stop with her in her bedroom.

“My mum is over the moon – she wanted a Christmas baby.”

Anaya takes her father’s name, Elahi.

In the same ward, 19-year-old Saira Bilal, of Legrams Lane, Bradford, gave birth to her first baby and was still contemplating a name for him today.

Her son, who was born at 10.06am this morning, weighed 6lb 2ozs. Dad Mohammed Bilal, 22, who works at Bombay Stores in Bradford, said he had wept as Saira gave birth and had never been so happy.

Thirty-year old finance assistant Selina Dennis, of Holme Wood, Bradford, gave birth at 9.46am. Her second boy – son to husband Adam – has yet to be named. He was eight days early and weighed 6lb 14ozs.

Teachers Andrea and Andrew Taylor, of Cononley, became parents for the first time at Airedale General Hospital.

Andrea, who teaches at South Craven School, Cross Hills, near Skipton, gave birth to Bethany, who weighed 6lb 1ozs, at 12.44am today.

“We were in the New Inn in Cononley on Christmas Eve when we became a bit concerned when the baby stopped moving so we came in,” said Andrew, 35, deputy head teacher at Upper Wharfedale School, Threshfield, near Skipton.

“One and three-quarter hours later, she was born.”

Andrea, 33, said: “The staff have been wonderful.”

e-mail: clive.white@telegraphandargus.co.uk