A COUPLE from Stroud celebrated New Year in style with the birth of their first child.

Mum Gemma Johnson, 23 and dad Robert Webster, 23, from Uplands welcomed their new-born James into the world just a few hours after the bells had rung in 2016.

He was one of the first babies born in the county this year, arriving at 6.48am, weighing a healthy seven pound and seven ounces.

“He is absolutely perfect,” said first-time mum Gemma.

“He is the best gift we could have asked for this festive period and we couldn't have wished for a better way to start 2016.

“I was due to give birth on December 24th, so at first we were joking that he would be born on Christmas Day.

“Then when it passed and I hadn’t gone into labour we joked that he would definitely be a New Year baby.

“We were expecting him any minute on New Year’s Eve, but nothing quite prepares you for the experience.”

As they were getting ready to celebrate Hogmanay, Gemma finally went into labour and the couple rushed to Stroud Maternity Hospital.

Little James is now settling in to his new home in Uplands, and is doing well.

“We’ve been absolutely bombarded with visitors over the last couple of days,” added a delighted Gemma, who works as the deputy manager at Betfred in Stroud.

“We’ve had family and friends at the house non-stop to meet James. My dad cried when he met his grandson for the first time.”