PROUD parents Yvonne and Rick O'Cana are celebrating the end of a seven-year wait to start a family after three bundles of joy came into the world.

Ela-Marie, Luke and Oscar are the first triplets to be born at Worthing Hospital's new maternity wing.

Luke had to be treated at Brighton's Royal Sussex County Hospital for lung problems but now all three babies are at home with their parents in Mansell Road, Shoreham.

Yvonne, 30, said: "I found out I was having triplets when I was six weeks pregnant but even now they are home I still can't believe it.

"It's great fun. I really enjoy it. If you have one, you may as well have three!"

The boys weighed in at 4lb and half an ounce and Ela-Marie was 3lb 5.5oz when they were born on May 13.

The triplets get through between 18 and 25 nappies a day and each have six feeds, lasting around half an hour each time.

But Yvonne is also trying to finish a marketing degree.

She said: "We were offered help but I knew I'd have to cope one day, so we turned it down.

"When they all wake up for their 4am feed I say thank goodness for cable TV!"

British Gas engineer Rick, 36, has been off on paternity leave for most of the time since the births but returns to work this week.

The couple are hoping to do some fund-raising for Worthing Hospital's baby unit to say thank-you for the help they received from staff.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.