MUM Hannah Clinkard has thanked staff at Wallingford Community Hospital for their support following a £350,000 refurbishment of the hospital’s birthing centre.

On February 5, at 8.05pm, Jack Arthur Lee became the first baby to be born at the Wallingford Birthing Centre since its official re-opening on January 29, following the completion of the revamp.

Jack weighed 8lb 4oz and Miss Clinkard, 27, from Benson, said: “As this was my first baby I really didn’t know how I would feel or what to expect.

“The whole birthing experience at Wallingford was just amazing. From the one-to-one care and support from my midwife, to the fantastic rooms and surroundings, everything was just fantastic.”

“I was quite apprehensive about breastfeeding my baby so I stayed for two days and the staff were very supportive – I wanted to stay even longer. I would definitely recommend this centre for other mums,” she added.

Wallingford Birthing Centre at the hospital in Reading Road re-opened after the refurbishment which included two new birthing pools, an additional birthing room, ensuite facilities in two of the birthing rooms and ensuite facility in the postnatal ward. There is also a refurbished family room.

The birthing centre, run by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, is one of more than 100 across the country to benefit from a grant from the Department of Health’s Improving Birthing Environments Capital Fund from 2012.

Self-employed gardener Miss Clinkard lives with Jack and her partner Simon Lee, 34, a carpenter.

In June last year, Gavin and Stacey actress Joanna Page attended the official opening of Wallingford Baby Cafe.

She had recently moved to the area with husband James Thornton and their four-month-old daughter Eva.

The baby cafe was established in 2012 at Ridgeway Community Church to support mums in the area.