The new decade's first babies have provided proud parents with a wonderful start to 2010.Norfolk's first new year baby arrived at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston.

The new decade's first babies have provided proud parents with a wonderful start to 2010.

Norfolk's first new year baby arrived at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston. A 4lb 13oz bundle of joy gave Samantha Paolantonio a good reason to remember New Year's Day after he arrived three weeks earlier than expected.

The unnamed boy, nicknamed Bambino, was born 12 minutes into the new year after his mother was induced on New Year's Eve following a routine check-up.

Mrs Paolantonio, from Oulton, near Lowestoft, told nurses that her wonderful baby boy could not wait three weeks to see his parents and thanked her midwives and hospital staff for their help.

Pauline Studley, senior midwife at the JPH, said that having a baby three weeks early was obviously an anxious time for Mrs Paolantonio but that the birth had gone as smoothly as possible.

There was a whole clutch of new year arrivals at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, starting with a baby boy just over half an hour into the year. By lunchtime yesterday there had been five bundles of joy, with several more mothers in labour. Staff said that it had been a busy week on the maternity ward after a relatively quiet Christmas.

The first girl of the new decade in Norfolk was Amelia Shawcross, who arrived at the N&N at 2.09am weighing 7lb 4oz. A New Year baby was not what her mother Emma expected, as she was not due until January 18. It was a fifth child and a third girl for Mrs Shawcross, who lives in Wisbech but was staying with her husband Terry's parents in Attleborough when the baby decided to make her appearance.

Mrs Shawcross, 26, is studying biochemistry at Anglia Ruskin University while Mr Shawcross is studying mental health nursing at the University of East Anglia. They named their daughter after Enid Blyton's Amelia Jane books.

Mrs Shawcross said: “They told me that she was the first girl of the year, which is nice. I am really made up, she is lovely.”

Next at the N&N was Ellis Dye, a first child for proud parents Emma and Chris, who live in Long Stratton. Baby Ellis had held out for the New Year - he was due on December 19. He had to be induced on Tuesday but did not arrive until 2.45am yesterday, weighing a hefty 10lb 6oz.

Mrs Dye, 24, who works at City College Norwich, said: “I am just glad that he is here.”

A postman and a barmaid had a special New Year's Day delivery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn. Dan Gardner and Dominique Tuck, both 23 and from Dersingham, were celebrating the arrival of their second child Tilly Sue, who arrived just before lunchtime. She is a sister to Morgan, 19 months,

Mr Gardner said: “I'd forgotten it was New Year's Day to be honest!”