A SPATE of new arrivals have made it a very special New Year for some families in the county.

A SPATE of new arrivals have made it a very special New Year for some families in the county.

It had been a long and anxious wait for Sarah-Jane Smallwood and her partner Sean Stewart for the arrival of their child - but it was all smiles at Ipswich Hospital yesterday after one of the first births of 2009.

Their baby was due on Christmas Eve but in the end Chloe was not born until 2.15am, weighing 7lbs 9ozs.

Ms Smallwood, of St Catherine's Court, Ipswich, said: ''It has been an anxious time waiting so long but she's worth it.''

Miranda Arnold and her husband, Colin, who works for BT, were delighted with the arrival of their second child. Karrah was born at 2.40am, weighing 8lbs 12ozs. The couple, of Salmet Close, Ipswich, also have a four-year-old daughter Emmie.

Steve Piper, of The Street, Witnesham, runs S P Boiler Services and Mr Piper was worried he would be unable to help customers with their heating problems at a busy time of year as he waited since Christmas Day for his overdue baby.

The birth of Evie, weighing 6lbs 13ozs at 7.13am was the first child for Mr Piper and his wife Janet.

Proud father Harjit Singh, of Graham Avenue, Ipswich, was not expecting his third child until the middle of January but Paneetpal Singh gave birth to Jay-Rocco at 5.30am.

Now the family, who run Lakha Stores, Norwich Road, Ipswich, which sells The Evening Star, are looking forward to sharing the good news with their customers.

Stowmarket baby Matilda Duro made an appearance at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds at 1.50am weighing 8lb 3ozs.

The second baby born at the hospital was Matilda Duro, who weighed 8lb 3oz and was delivered at 1.50am to delighted parents Michelle and Ben, and older brother Owen, aged three.

Her parents Michelle and Ben Duro, who live in Wetherden, near Stowmarket, said their baby daughter had arrived six days late but they were thankful she did not go into labour on Christmas Day. Matilda has an older brother called Ben, aged three.

n. Did you have a New Year with a difference? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk