A PAINSWICK family missed out on the tradition of having all December birthdays when their third child was born on January 1.

Gifford and Carly Morris and their two eldest children Finlay, seven, and Sky, three, all celebrate their birthdays in December a tradition which was supposed to be shared by the newest family member, a baby girl, who was due on Christmas Day.

However after a week of waiting their daughter, who they have not named yet, was born at 5.37am on New Year’s Day – a mere five hours after the December deadline.

Mum Carly opted to have a water birth at her home in Upper Washwell, Painswick, which the family had only moved in to two months ago.

It was her first home birth as she had both Finlay and Sky at Stroud Maternity Unit.

"There were absolutely no problems with the first two and so Carly decided that she would have the new baby at home as it was something she had always wanted to do," said Gifford.

After two and a half hours of labour the family welcomed the new baby who weighed 8lb 9oz.