CHRISTMAS Day saw a mini- baby boom in Hyndburn with three families celebrating new arrivals.
Lily Grace, Ruby Elizabeth, Zain Alyas and Samuel were all born at the Royal Blackburn Hospital on 25 December.
New mum Caroline Finney was adamant not to miss her turkey dinner when she gave birth to twins so she had it delivered to the ward.
Caroline, 25, a personal assistant, and her partner Graham Birtwistle, 26, of Beaconsfield Street, Great Harwood, welcomed Lily Grace at 7.39am and Ruby Elizabeth at 7.49am.
The girls were actually due on 26 January but they arrived five weeks earlier than expected.
Lily weighed 4lbs 14oz and Ruby was 5lbs 14oz. They have a six-year-old brother, Joe, who attends Great Harwood Primary School.
Caroline said: "We have known we were having twins since the first scan but when we first found out it was a total shock.
"I was carrying a lot of weight but they are absolutely fine. I was in a lot of pain on Christmas Eve but I wanted to get Christmas Day over with first and then have them on Boxing Day instead.
"When I got to the hospital though I knew it was going to happen. I was supposed to be having a family Christmas meal so they brought a plate in for me instead. I was ready for it."
Caroline said that Joe was a little unsure about the new additions to the family at first but as soon as he saw them he thought they were wonderful.
She added: "It is very different having twins, everything obviously takes twice as long. We are just wondering how everyone will fit around the table next Christmas."
THE parents of little Zain Alyas are preparing for a double celebration when their baby is sent home for the first time.
He was due on 23 December but held on for a couple of days and eventually arrived at 1.09am on Christmas Day.
He weighed in at 7lbs 11oz and is the first child of Rouzia Khursheed, 26, and Nadeem Alyas, 30.
The couple live in Accrington together and are hoping to take Zain home in time for the Eid celebrations which begin on New Year's Eve.
Nadeem said: "This is our first child so we are really looking forward to taking him home. Rouzia is doing OK and she is really happy.
"Everyone is getting ready for Eid so there will be lots of celebrations and a party once Zain is home."
PROUD mum Sarah Clough got the best present ever when her son Samuel arrived on Christmas Day.
Doctors had originally predicted that Samuel would be born on 30 December but Samuel, who weighed 7lb 7oz, had other ideas.
Sarah, of Willow Park, Oswaldtwistle, works as a film reviewer and lives with fiancé William. They have another son, two-year-old Joshua.
Sarah said: "It was just brilliant when he was born on Christmas Day and I was ecstatic. It was a fantastic surprise as he was a few days early."
Sarah, who follows the Wiccan faith, is looking to have Samuel blessed next year.
