POPULAR publican Roy Denby had a morning after the night before to remember when his partner gave birth to an eight pound 12 ounce bundle.

Roy, landlord of the historic Three Mariners pub on the banks of the Lune in Lancaster, is now the proud father of Joshua Thomas, thanks to partner Claire Brass.

And both mother and little baby are in the best of health after the New Year's Day birth.

"I am over the moon," says 29-year-old Roy. "Joshua is beautiful and Claire looks radiant. I am a really happy chap. Words cannot really describe the joy."

Roy and Claire, 20, have been in charge of the historic Three Mariners for 18 months and Roy says pub regu-lars are also celebrating the news.

"I think everyone is made up for us and we have had a lot of messages of good luck," adds Roy.

"I haven't planned a celebration yet but I think we will have a head wetting in the pub when we have settled Joshua in properly."

A New Year birth may not sound ideal for a publican at the end of the busiest fortnight of the year but Roy says it was no real problem either for him or the pub.

Thirsty drinkers were in no danger of going short of ale thanks to Claire's sister and pub assistant manager Becky Brass.

"Becky stepped in and ran the show so it was business as usual in here," says Roy.

Joshua Thomas was one of a magnificent seven New Year babies born at the Royal Lancaster Infir-mary on Sunday.

Lisa Maddock from Lancaster was first in the queue as she gave birth to 8lb 6oz Alfie Glover at 0.46am.

Carnforth's Christina Woods gave birth to daughter Bekky Thelma Simpson at 10.20 in the morning - Bekky weighed in at 7lb.

Little Jacob Lightfoot, four, from Caton, gained a baby brother when Declan Isaac was born at 6.42pm and Adrienne Taylor, from Morecambe, became the proud mother of Candice Bowden at 11.15pm.

Two other New Year mums preferred to remain anonymous.