Glad tidings for the vicar!

As well as celebrating the birth of Jesus on Monday, he welcomed his own little arrival into the world as wife Kathryn, 31, gave birth to son Nathaniel.

The 7lb 6oz youngster was a surprise festive package in the afternoon - he wasn't due for another two weeks.

Alistair and his wife both grew up in Ferndown but he is training in Bristol and the couple were staying with family for Christmas.

Alistair said: "I must admit it was a bit of shock because he wasn't due until January 9.

"Ironically we had both chalked this down as our last free Christmas because by this time next year I will have been ordained!"

The couple, both 31, have two other children Molly and Tom.

The first baby born on Christmas Day was a girl of 7lbs to Neil and Destine Unwin of Highcliffe.

Meanwhile brothers Marcus and Darren Horwood were able to toast a double celebration.

Marcus's partner Sarah went into labour at 12.01am on Christmas Day and gave birth to Phoebe, 6lbs, 13oz at Poole Hospital later that morning.

Darren had become a dad a few hours earlier on Christmas Eve when his partner Sarah delivered a boy of 9lbs, Tyler.

The two Sarahs were in adjoining beds in the maternity ward. Marcus said: "The babies were due on different days so it wasn't what we had expected. It's all been quite hectic but we're all doing okay."

Sarah and Lew Jordan, of Hamworthy, welcomed their third child, Sapphire, 7lb 12 oz, at Bournemouth Hospital on Monday evening. Baby Luke, 7lb 12 oz, became the second child of Rachel and Richard Casserley, from Hogarth Way, Bournemouth.

Chantelle Bowen and husband Morné took the unique approach of taking the three letters from each of their names to name their first baby Charné, 8lb 4oz.

Vicki Matthews, from Hamworthy, gave birth to a bouncing baby boy Jaydon, 8lb, at Poole Hospital while Nicola and Douglas Harris beat the clock to have Christmas baby Harvey, also 8lb, just after 11pm.

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