A couple have described the birth of their first baby as “the ultimate Christmas present”.

Hollie Askew was the first baby born on Christmas Day this year at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, after she missed her due date on December 23.

Hollie was born at 2.36am weighing 9lb 14oz, and was the first of six babies to be born at the hospital on December 25.

Parents Jessica Whitney and Ben Askew, of Mowberry Gardens in Loughton, said they had joked about their daughter arriving on Christmas day but “never expected it to actually happen”.

Miss Whitney said: “when she was late we joked she would arrive on Christmas Day but we never expected it to actually happen.

“When we found out she was a girl, which I had secretly hoped for, we found the name Hollie to be very fitting!

“She is the ultimate Christmas present, we couldn’t imagine our lives without her now.”