LITTLE Jasmine Rose Kendrew wasn't expected to arrive until the end of January.

But she was in such a hurry to be born that she became the first York baby of 2006, arriving in the world at exactly 8.34am on New Year's Day.

Her mother, Carol Kendrew, of Huntington, said of the moment when she first held her daughter: "It was quite overwhelming."

"It was something special for Jasmine. She is always going to make an entrance now."

She and husband Bruce, a joiner, had not planned to celebrate New Year's Eve in style as they already have one child, 19-month-old Scott.

Only when Carol went into labour shortly before midnight, did they realise they would have a bigger reason to celebrate.

"The midwives in the labour and delivery wards were absolutely fantastic," she said.

Jasmine weighed in at 5lbs 14oz at York Hospital's maternity ward, three-and-a-half weeks early, and settled down to spend her first day sleeping.

Mother and daughter are likely to spend a couple of days in hospital before going home to Huntington.

Updated: 10:22 Monday, January 02, 2006