A FAMILY are celebrating the “best Christmas ever” with the arrival of their baby son on Christmas Day.

Jack Humphreys was born at Braintree Community Hospital at 6.24am- just about the time Santa finishes dropping off his presents.

Proud mum Emma Humphreys, of Warne Avenue, Braintree, said: “He wasn’t due until New Year’s Eve, so he did come as a bit of a surprise.

“It all started on Christmas Eve. I was sitting down and wrapping up the last few bits at about 9pm.

“I was trying to convince myself it was just a few rumbles, I didn’t say much to my partner.

“About 3am I had a bath and phoned the hospital and we got in there about 5am. The staff were all fantastic.”

Baby Jack was born nearly an hour and a half later, weighing 10 pounds and four ounces.

When he got home at 4pm he was greeted by siblings George, 7, Lexi-Mae, 5, and 18-month-old Emelia.

Emma, 25, said: “We made sure nobody told them, they thought we had gone out to get some milk.

“When we came home they were quite shocked. I was quite surprised that they had waited until 4pm to open their presents.

“They absolutely love him, they are all fascinated.

“They have said it was the best Christmas so far.”

Amazingly, George had only celebrated his 7th birthday on the 23rd and was hoping his baby brother would make an even earlier appearance so they could share a birthday.

Dad Steve, 35, said: “A lot of people were joking, saying it would be Christmas Day.

“I said let’s just get Christmas Day and Boxing Day out of the way, then he can come.

“But babies just turn up when they want to.

“It’s probably been better for us because it means we can spend more time with the kids before they go back to school.”

The window cleaner added: “You wouldn’t have got a price on one being the 23rd and one being the 25th.”