Meet Leeds' first baby of the decade - whose adorable middle name means 'new beginning'

Naomi Hughes and partner Pepe Candelas welcomed their first child Rocco shortly after 1am on New Year's Day

Naomi Hughes and her partner Pepe Candelas welcomed their first child Rocco to the world at 01:08am at Leeds General Infirmary this morning (Wednesday).

The infant was 12 days late, with the couple left wondering whether they were to have a Christmas baby.

Born instead over New Year, Naomi and Pepe, both 27 and from Morley, decided to give him the middle name 'Nova', which means 'a new beginning', as a nod to the occasion.

Rocco's middle name 'Nova' means a 'new beginning' as a tribute to being born at the turn of a new decade

'Nova' is also used as an astrological term when talking about stars increasing in brightness from an explosion.

Naomi, who runs Jasmine Pottery Studios in Wakefield, said: "He was due on the 20th but didn't arrive. We wondered if maybe we would have a Christmas baby, but Christmas came and went. It was very tiring and just felt like a lot of waiting around.

"We chose not to find out the sex so he was a total surprise and we hadn't thought much about middle names. What with the surprise, and it being the start of a new decade, we gave him a name which means, 'new beginnings'."

Rocco weighed a perfect 8lb and 5oz and both mum and baby are healthy.

Naomi added: "I'm exhausted but we are so happy."