THIS new year was seen in with happy bundles of joy when two babies were born shortly after midnight.

Two sets of parents from the borough welcomed their first child into the world on New Year's Day at Whipps Cross University Hospital in Leytonstone.

Naghena and Waheed Yusuf, 36 and 37, of Spencer Road in Walthamstow, had a baby boy called Hasan at 8.01am, weighing 7llbs 4oz.

Mr Yusuf, an enforcement officer for Ealing Council, said: “He is in perfect health and enjoying his life so far. He is the first one, so he has been getting lots of attention from our parents and brothers and sisters, who are all very excited.

"It was a lovely way to start the new year.”

Inga Semjonova and Pavel Certov, 25 and 28, of Floodgate Road, in Leytonstone, welcomed little Ilya into the world at 12.49am.

Mr Certov, a Latvian national, said: “I was so happy. I was in the delivery room, so it was quite scary.

"But he is a quiet little boy and mother and baby are healthy.”