The proud parents of a baby born on Christmas Day have hailed their new son as a Christmas miracle.

Freida Moore, 35, of Raeburn Avenue, Surbiton, gave birth to healthy 8lb 10oz Jonathan at Kingston Hospital at 8.39pm on December 25.

However, dad Robert, 38, said he would have preferred his son to have been born a little later so he did not have to share his birthday with such a famous figure as Jesus.

"It really is the best Christmas present I have ever had," he said. "But now Jonathan will have to share his birthday with many other people celebrating something else.

"I think we will have to be like the Queen and have an official birthday for him as well."

Robert said they had expected Jonathan could be born on Christmas Day, but they thought it would not happen because it was getting so late on the day.

"We had finished our dinner and opened all our presents when Freida went into labour," he said.

"We thought we were settling down for the night, but it seems he was determined to be born on Christmas Day because it all happened so quickly."

The family, including Jonathan's two-year-old brother Benjamin, all travelled in their car through deserted streets to Kingston Hospital, where Jonathan was born just a few hours later.

"It was absolutely wonderful, a Christmas miracle to be sure," Robert said. "The staff in the maternity unit were fantastic too.

The family returned home on Boxing Day, where they have been relaxing since.

Jonathan was one of eight babies - five boys and three girls - to be born at Kingston Hospital on Christmas Day.