A police officer gave birth to the first baby born on Christmas Day in the new maternity unit at North Middlesex University Hospital – nearly a year after his sister was born on New Year’s Day.

Little Ricardo Agalliu was born to his mum Rasvinder just before 1am, on December 25, weighing in at 8lbs and 5oz.

He is the Haringey police officer’s second baby in 2013 after Ricardo’s sister Bella-Rose was born on January 1, 2013.

Mrs Agalliu said: “I gave birth to Bella-Rose on New Year’s Day and then on Christmas Day, little Ricardo came along.

“So two babies in one year on very special dates. I already have a six-year-old son, Romeo, so all Italian names.”

Rasvinder gave birth in the hospital’s new state-of-the-art facility, part of the recent £80million expansion of the Edmonton hospital.

She added: “The midwives were brilliant and the maternity unit at the North Mid is amazing.

“I cannot thank them enough for the care they gave me and my baby.

“It was great experience, absolutely brilliant.”

Rasvinder lives with her husband, Julian, and their three children in Enfield, and the latest addition caps a busy time for the family.

Rasvinder added: “My husband has just opened up a restaurant in Shoreditch called the East End kitchen so it has been all go in our house.

“We are delighted to have Ricardo back home with us and I have just been up to the hospital with a present for the midwives, to thank them for the amazing experience and care I received.”

Expectant mums and their partners can see the new unit for themselves on twice-weekly tours which launch next week, from January 9.

Tours will take place at 7pm on Thursday nights and at 10am on Friday mornings.

Those interested should email head of midwifery Fiona Laird at fiona.laird@nhs.net or call the unit on 020 8887 2494 to book a visit.