REBECCA Howard has given birth to a boy and a girl, Castle Howard announced today.

The wife of estate owner Simon Howard gave birth to twins on Sunday evening at York District Hospital.

Richard Kemp, from the Castle Howard Estate, said Mr Howard was over the moon.

"I have seen him and he is walking around with a huge smile on his face - he's really happy," he said.

"There were no complications and they have been named already - Merlin and Octavia.

"I know very little, but she was taken to the hospital and the babies were delivered there."

Mr Howard's assistant, Sarah Buckroyd, said the twins had arrived four weeks prematurely but they were very healthy.

"Octavia came in at 5lb 1oz and Merlin at 4lb 10oz, so they are a healthy weight," she said.

"Mrs Howard went into labour on Sunday evening and they were born at some point yesterday."

Mr Howard married Marks & Spencer heiress Rebecca Sieff at Castle Howard last year in a spectacular ceremony.

Within weeks, the couple announced Rebecca was pregnant with twins.

"Everyone at the estate is beaming - it's great news," said Mrs Buckroyd.

"Mrs Howard will be staying in hospital for a couple of days, but we don't know whether the twins will be joining her.

"Everything is in a whirlwind at the moment because it has come so unexpectedly.

"We don't know whether we will be holding any special celebration to mark the occasion."

Updated: 15:22 Tuesday, February 05, 2002