PROUD Crossways parents Keiron Whitty and Leoni Ling received a special Christmas delivery as they welcomed their daughter Hope into the world.

Hope Elizabeth Whitty was born at 11.01pm on Christmas Eve at Dorset County Hospital, weighing 8lb 6oz.

Hope will join a big family, with half sisters Ellen and Ruby, half-brothers Cameron and Finley, and brother Mitchell to keep her company.

Dad Keiron said both mum and baby are doing well and were let home on Christmas Day so they could celebrate with the family.

He added: “The family is complete now, definitely. There’s actually a little story behind why she is named Hope because in April I lost my dad and just two days later Leoni found out she was pregnant, so she gave us hope during a very difficult time and is a little ray of sunshine for us.”

Keiron also said baby Hope is ‘quite placid’ in comparison to her boistrous siblings but is ‘loud when she wants to be’ and has already been keeping Mum and Dad awake at night.

The parents thanked all the staff at the maternity ward in DCH, along with Hope’s grandparents Ruth and Rog, and Marilyn and Kev for cooking Christmas and Boxing Day dinner for them.