Little Daniel Chatters was eager to be born.

Perhaps he would not have been so keen if he had known his appearance 12 days early meant he would officially be celebrating his birthday only once every four years - even if he has made history as the first north Essex millennium leap year baby.

The first child of a Colchester couple took only about two hours to make his entry into the world.

He weighed in at a respectable 6lbs 14ozs and was the first of eight babies - five boys and three girls - to be born in the Constable Wing of Colchester General Hospital on February 29.

Daniel is the son of 21-year-old Samantha Orrin and her partner Matthew Chatters, 22, of Hilltop Close, Colchester.

Grandparents Eva and David Orrin, of Old Heath, and great grandmother Phyllis Orrin, 81, of All Saints Avenue, Colchester, were also bursting with pride.

Eva said: "We got to the hospital at 4.05 am and he was born 50 minutes later. I was present throughout."

Now Samantha and Matthew will have to decide on which date Daniel will celebrate his future birthdays.

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