A pair of proud parents welcomed the New Year in with the arrival of a new baby

Tommy was born at 7.11am on New Year's Day and was the first baby of 2024 to be born at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

Parents Kimberley Nichols, 32, and David Power, 37, both of Burgess Hill, shared this beautiful picture of Tommy, along with a sign proclaiming him as the “first 2024 baby born at Princess Royal Hospital”.

Tommy has also been welcomed by his two sisters, six-year-old Rosie and three-year-old Daisy.

Kimberley said: “After arriving at the hospital, it was a close call getting to the delivery suite.

“After just 17 minutes of arriving, baby Tommy made his entrance and we were informed we were the first baby of 2024.

“It was a lovely start to the New Year and Tommy is being showered with love from his two older sisters Rosie and Daisy.”

Tommy, who weighed 7lb and 8oz, could have been a Christmas baby, having been due on Christmas Eve. However, he decided to wait and instead arrive in time to see in the new year.

A total of 20 babies were born across just four hospitals on New Year’s Day, with the Royal Sussex County Hospital welcoming nine babies on the first day of 2024.

Two other births were reported at the Princess Royal Hospital, with two births at Worthing Hospital and six reported at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester - though one of those was a home birth.

The Argus: Baby Eleena was also born on New Year's DayBaby Eleena was also born on New Year's Day (Image: Jo Walraven)

One of the two babies born at Worthing Hospital was Eleena Walraven, who weighed 7lb and 9oz.

Parents Jo and Nick Walraven from Worthing said: “We are so pleased to welcome our new beautiful baby girl on the first day of the year.”