NO Christmas gift could be more special...

For four sets of parents, dedicated staff at the Maternity Unit of Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary delivered the perfect happy ending as their babies were safely brought into the world.

First to arrive Alice Adams.

Her parents Nicola and Grahame Adams had feared they would never have their own child but their dream came true at 2.03am on Christmas Day. She weighed in at a healthy 7lbs 8.5oz. "She's just perfect," said 26-year-old civil servant Nicola.

"I just can't believe it. I'm absolutely besotted. There was a point when we didn't think it would happen. We tried for a while but nothing had really come of it.

"We were just about to start fertility treatment. We went to the first session to get the tablets but before I could start taking the tablets, that was it: I was already pregnant." The couple, from Harraby, Carlisle, were trying for a baby since they married five years ago.

Grahame, 28, said he felt overwhelmed.

"She's 13 days later, but I'm so glad she's here." Nicola spoke for the whole family as she summed up the care they received at the maternity unit, saying. "They've been beyond fabulous - absolutely amazing. We can't thank them enough."

At 4.15am as Aimee Lahey, 20, became a mum for the second time as her daughter Lacie was born, weighing 7lbs 2oz. “I’m so glad she’s here and safe,” said the nursery worker, from Raffles, Carlisle. “I gave birth to her brother Robbie on New Year’s Eve last year.

“The staff have been lovely.”

Lacie’s proud dad Bobby Erangey, 20, added: “It was a lovely Christmas Day present.”

Little Lily May Corrie became a Christmas Day baby with just six minutes to spare. She arrived at 11.54pm, weighing weighing 6lbs 10.5oz.

As she slept peacefully in her mother’s arms, Lily May had no idea of how much joy she was giving to her adoring parents - a joy so profound it was almost beyond words. "She’s just perfect,” said proud mum Jessica Baird, 24, as the tot's dad Greg Corrie, 30, looked on.

Lily May had been due to be born on January 10, but she arrived four days early because of medical complications.

Thanks to the expertise and care of the hospital's staff, there was a happy ending. Jessica, a mental health nursing assistant, said the Maternity Unit staff had been truly amazing: caring, helpful, and reassuring throughout her stay in the unit.

As she gazed at her daughter, she added: “I can't put into words how feel. She a little Christmas miracle.” The couple, from Etterby, Carlisle, said that the hospital’s staff provided amazing care.

Greg added: "We'd joked about having a Christmas baby, but now that it's happened, it's properly world-changing. There are not many Christmas presents that can make you cry. But she is the best present you could have. It's a totally new world of responsibility; and it instantly changes the way you look at everything.

One of the new mum's was unavailable for comment.