While some people were celebrating the new year, one proud mother was in labour, delivering a baby girl early on New Year’s Day.

Kira Saunders, 26, of Whinless Road in Dover who already has three children, gave birth to beautiful Ebony-Rose at 2am at the QEQM Hospital in Margate. She weighed 8lbs 6oz.

Mrs Saunders endured 16 hours of labour and said that the prospect of having a baby over the festive season made her “on edge.”

She told the Mercury: “Christmas was fine. I was a bit on edge as I didn’t know if I was going to go in.

“I was told that I was going to have my waters broken at 8.30pm but they kept me going. I wasn’t expecting to have her just after the new year.”

Mrs Saunders due date was New Year’s Eve, meaning Ebony was only one day late.