NEW parents across the county celebrated the perfect gift for Christmas this year with the arrival of their babies.

Bee Garrett gave birth to daughter Olivia May at 4.56am on Christmas Day at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

The birth was a surprise for Miss Garrett, 23, and her partner Joshua Hewes, 21, who were not expecting little Olivia – the couple’s first child – to arrive until January 20. At 26 days premature, Olivia weighs a tiny 5lb 15oz.

Miss Garrett said: “It’s such a shock that she’s actually here – she must have wanted to join us for Christmas Day.

“It was very scary [having her so early], and she’s tiny, but she has a full head of hair already. We’re just so happy.”

Olivia May Garrett-Hewes was one of seven babies to be born on Christmas Day at the Princess Royal.

Another baby kept its mother awake through the night as she endured a lengthy labour. Justyna Lech, 28, from Hove, welcomed her son Adam Jan into the world at 7.33am on Christmas Day.

Arriving right on time, Adam came into the world at a healthy weight of just under 7lb 4oz.

He is Miss Lech’s second child – his older brother Amir, who is three, cannot wait to have him at home.

She said: “I thought he would arrive over Christmas time – my due date was Christmas Day – but we thought he might come early after I went into labour on the 23rd. His brother came in and met him yesterday and was so happy. He’s so excited for us to come homet.”

Adam Jan Lech is among the three babies to be born on Monday at the Royal Sussex.

It was a quiet day for hospitals in Sussex, as Worthing Hospital saw two babies – a boy and a girl – delivered on Christmas Day, and St Richard’s in Chichester celebrated the same number of arrivals. Meanwhile, a single baby was born at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

It is believed the first Christmas Day newborn came elsewhere in the UK, as Karen Ratcliffe brought her first child into the world at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, ten seconds after midnight.