A mother-to-be spent the night before she gave birth dancing her maternity socks off in a nightclub.

Three hours after leaving Rest Bar in Bath Place, Worthing, Laura McGregor gave birth to her first child.

Baby Ciara Emily Rogers started coming into the world on Christmas Eve as her mum boogied and her DJ dad Mark Rogers played funk on the decks.

Laura, 27, a former professional dancer, thought her labour pains were false contractions. So, despite being four days overdue, she carried on dancing.

Ciara was born at 3.57am at Worthing Hospital. Laura, of Greenland Close, Durrington, said: "I was at the bar for five hours. I had a great time.

"I had some pains which I thought were just Braxton Hicks contractions. I got home and I thought, I don't feel very well. Three-and-a-half hours later she appeared."

Proud Ciara weiged in at 6lbs 8oz. Laura now works for her father's firm, Martin and Co Lettings in Littlehampton. Her partner Mark, 28, is a mechanical engineer.

Little Edward James Werrett was born on Christmas Day at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

First-time parents Helen and Lawrence Werrett, both 33, of Byron Street, Hove, became proud parents at 2.29pm.

Weighing in at 8lbs and half an ounce, Edward arrived bang on time but dad, Lawrence, just missed the birth.

Helen, who started having contractions at 5pm on Christmas Eve, said: "Lawrence went home to feed the cat because we were told Edward wouldn't be coming for a while.

"They said after the epidural I would be able to sleep for a couple of hours but things happened really quickly. Lawrence walked in about 60 seconds afterwards."

Also born on Christmas Day in Worthing was Holly Joan McMurran, who was delivered by her mum's best friend.

Midwife Rachel Trussler came in to work especially to deliver Sonia McMurran's daughter. Three years ago she delivered Sonia's son Jack.

Holly was due on December 21, but hung on long enough so Jack could open his stocking with his parents at their home in Edmonton Road, Durrington, on Christmas morning.

Sonia, 27, is a hairdresser and her husband Wayne, 29, works at a timber merchant. Holly was born at 10.32am, weighing 7lb 13oz.

Sian Thomas, 23, had just finished unwrapping her presents at home in Cypress Close, Shoreham, when her contractions started at 11am. She arrived at the hospital at 1.30pm at and 2.32pm baby Izabelle was born weighing 5lb 10oz.

Sian said: "She is an amazing Christmas present and I am still in shock."

In total, seven babies were born at Worthing Hospital on Christmas Day including another girl and three boys.

Four boys and a girl were born at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, including Kathryn Vince-Odozi's son Ethan, weighing in at 7lb 14oz with a full head of thick, black hair.

Ella Gwynn, 31, and her husband Phil, 30, of Valebridge Road, Burgess Hill, became the proud parents of a baby boy at 10.37pm, weighing 9lb 8oz.

Phil said: "It was a long day and although we didn't get to eat anything, we did get to open our presents."

At Eastbourne District General Hospital a girl and a boy were delivered on Christmas Day, while five girls and two boys arrived at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings.

Staff at St Richard's hospital in Chichester were kept the busiest, delivering five girls and six boys.

To see pictures of Sussex's Christmas babies,click here