A Keighley couple’s dream came true when their first child was born on New Year’s Day.

Sobia and Shaq Younas were expecting their baby girl to be born on January 3, but had been hoping for the birth to come earlier.

Mr Younas, 27, said: “We definitely wanted a baby on New Year’s Day. It’s a new year and a new start with a new family.

“We were happy with either a girl or a boy – it’s a blessing to us.”

Mrs Younas, 25, added: “We said to the baby, come on, you’ve only got a few hours to go until midnight!”

In the end, their daughter, who has yet to be named, was born at 11.35am at Airedale Hospital weighing 6lb 7oz, after a labour of more than five hours.

The circumstance of the birth had an added poignancy for Mr Younas, as he works at the hospital as a biomedical scientist.