A BUMPER bundle of babies were welcomed into the world on Christmas Day.

As thousands of families across Oxfordshire opened presents and tucked into turkey dinners, others were celebrating new arrivals at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital and Banbury’s Horton Hospital.

At the JR, 10 Christmas Day babies were delivered — six girls and four boys – while two girls were born at the Horton.

Among the proud parents were Lindsey and Richard Gidlow, from Bampton, who welcomed baby Olivia into the world at 12.30am.

First-time mum Mrs Gidlow, 30, a teacher at Eynsham Primary School, said: “She was due on December 21, so I was hoping she would be just before Christmas or just after, but she arrived half an hour into Christmas Day.

“It’s a lovely Christmas present.”

Olivia was delivered by Caesarean section and weighed 6lb 4oz.

Mrs Gidlow added: “As soon as I heard her cry it was fantastic. It’s the sound I had been waiting nine months to hear and when I saw her she was beautiful.”

Mr Gidlow, 34, also a teacher, said: “It’s fantastic, we will never forget her birthday.”

Father Christmas and his helpers toured the maternity unit of the JR, handing out gifts to mothers and their babies.

Maternity care assistant Becky Toepfer, who was dressed as a fairy for her shift, said: “The Christmas babies are always lovely. I think the parents definitely enjoy it and it feels more special that they have Christmas babies.

“The mothers all get Christmas presents and so do the babies.”

Also recovering after a Caesarean section was Fiona Abdolrazaghi, 33, of Woodstock Road, Oxford, who gave birth to a yet-to-be-named little girl at 5.05am, weighing 6lb exactly.

Mrs Abdolrazaghi, who was with her husband Hamaad and two-year-old daughter Precious, said: “She was due on January 10 so it was a nice surprise. She is a beautiful Christmas present.”

Kheiral Nazimah Jaafar, 35, from Buckingham, was cuddling her first born son.

She said: “I’m so relieved and happy. He was due on December 19 so I have been waiting.

“It’s really something amazing to have delivered on Christmas Day.”