LITTLE Elsa Iris Sedgwick has given her parents the perfect belated Christmas present – a baby daughter.

Proud mum Sara Sedgwick gave birth at the Grange Maternity Centre on December 28, at 4.39pm.

Elsa, a little sister to three-year-old James, weighed 9lb 2oz, according to equally proud dad Nigel Bowley.

And the London Road, Clanfield, couple were quick to praise centre staff after the birth of their Christmas baby.

"I can't praise them enough for the experience we had. I can recommend absolutely. It was just like home from home," said Sara, 38.

"I felt as if I was in control of the whole birth and Sue, my midwife, was so supportive it was like having a friend there."

"The one-to-one continuity of after care over the next couple of days was amazing," she added.

The family are now back home and enjoying their new daughter while Dawn Phillips, the clinical lead for the Swan Street-based Grange Maternity Centre, said the unit was a "welcoming and relaxing place" to have a baby.

And the new pool which was installed toward the end of last year is proving to be a winner with new mums.

"It is wonderful and so much easier for the staff," said Dawn.

The maternity centre, which faced an uncertain future several years ago, is now gaining in popularity as more women book into the unit from places as far away as Alton, Liphook and Haslemere to take advantage of the first-rate facilities.