PROUD parents across East Lancashire jumped for joy yesterday as their newborn babies arrived into the world on Leap Year Day.

Alison Hartland, 32, of Haworth Street, Rishton, had her first child, Eleanor Clara, at 6.25am, and she weighed in at nine pounds seven ounces at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.

Mrs Hartland, who is a teacher at St Matthews CE Primary School, Blackburn, said her husband Barrie, 32, a site operator, was "over the moon."

She said: "She was late, as she was due on the 20th. When we realised she could be born on the 29th we were quite excited, as it's a unique date in this special year."

Catherine Morton, 34, of Walmsley Street, Great Harwood, and boyfriend Shaun Curtis, 39, are the proud parents of Chloe. She was born at 1.20am at Queen's Park and weighed eight pounds two ounces. Catherine, a production operator at Philips Components, said: "At first I didn't want her to be born on February 29, but she was five days late and I got this feeling she was going to arrive on the 29th, so it's a special day."

Also at Queen's Park, Emily Snape, of Burnley Road, Accrington, had Rebecca Faye at 2.28am, weighing five pounds two ounces. Emily is an NHS support worker and husband Graham a dyehouse operative.

Mum Nicola Holden, of Birtwistle Avenue, Colne, gave birth to the first leap year baby at Burnley General Hospital at 7.45am after seven hours in labour.

Tired Nicola and her partner Richard Jackson decided on the name Reece soon after he was born but they have still to decide whose surname he will take.

Reece came into the world weighing 9lbs 7ozs during a labour which Nicola described as "hard work".

She said: "It still hasn't sunk in yet. It is a bit bizarre that he will not have another birthday for four years."

Pictured are Richard Jackson and Nicola Holden, of Colne, with their new baby Reece.

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