A Moray baby could not wait to join the new year celebrations – arriving just 10 seconds after the bells.
Harry Jacob Ferguson, who was originally due on Christmas Day, was delivered at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin while spectacular fireworks displays shot off around the country.
He is believed to be the first baby born in Scotland in 2018.
Yesterday, proud parents Amy Coull and Craig Fergsuon, from Portessie near Buckie, joked their son “wanted to make an entrance”.
The couple held Harry, who weighed 9lb 8oz, for the first time while hearing Auld Lang Syne played elsewhere on the ward.
The new parents had initially cancelled Christmas due to them expecting to spend it in a maternity ward.
However, when Harry failed to make an appearance they instead visited family while awaiting the new arrival.
After a false alarm on Saturday the couple returned home before arriving at the hospital again at 6am on Hogmanay.
At about 11.30pm hospital staff made the decision to deliver the baby by caesarean section.
Mr Ferguson, 26, who works as a carpenter, said: “At that point we knew it was going to be close, either just before or just after.
“Everybody was timing it. I had my phone out as well and when I looked at the time it was 00:00.
“It wasn’t planned, it was just the way it happened.”
Miss Coull, 22, who works as a carer, added: “We were initially excited about a Christmas baby but he chose New Year instead. He’s just perfect.”
Less than three hours later the maternity staff in Elgin had another new arrival – Chester Feeney, weighing 6lb 13oz.
Parents Tom Feeney and Jess Schofield, from Kinloss, had expected to warm up for the bells with a curry.
And despite having to rush to the hospital on Hogmanay, Mr Feeney, 32, still managed to find time to phone and cancel their reservation.
Miss Schofield, 29, said: “It was all a bit of a surprise. He wasn’t due until the 11th and we were looking for a home birth.
“It couldn’t have been better though. The staff were amazing and we saw fireworks out the window.”
