THE FIRST baby of the New Year at Queens Park Hospital in Blackburn certainly made a real Splash.

Madison, whose name was influenced by the 1984 film about a mermaid who falls in love with a businessman, was born at 2.59am yesterday weighing 7lb 14oz.

Her mum, Kerry Croak, 24, says she chose the name partly because of the film starring Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah but also because of the great shopping in Madison Avenue, New York.

The manageress of Stanley Racing, Rishton, added: "It was good spending New Year's Eve in the hospital -- and it was cheap, so we may do it again next year!

"I still can't believe she's here. It's fantastic and she's so chilled out, just like her dad."

Dad Curtis Baron, who works as an electrician for Blackburn with Darwen Council, was also at the hospital for the birth which was ten days later than expected. He said: "She is absolutely superb, I'm over the moon.

"I went back to my cousin's house afterwards to join the New Year celebrations but by then it was around 6am. Everyone had had too much to drink, so I went home.

"I wasn't too bothered, though, as Madison has given us a wonderful start to the New Year."

Kerry and Curtis, 23, hope to take Madison back to their home in Arkwright Fold, Blackburn, today.

Only two other babies were delivered at the hospital on New Year's Day which is a much smaller number than usual.

Angela Pedder, clinical midwife lead and matron, said: "It has been reasonably quiet compared with previous years but we are getting busier now."

Last New Year was also quiet with just five babies compared with an average of 12 a day during the year.