More than 25 babies have been delivered at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's new midwife-led birthing unit since it opened before Christmas.

The Waterlily birth centre boasts specialist birthing equipment including birthing pools and tools to support different birthing positions.

It was designed to aid relaxation during labour, with rooms with en-suite facilities, a kitchen and living area.

The centre can be used by women experiencing straightforward pregnancies and is next to the hospital's central delivery suite so that mother and baby can be transferred with minimal disruption in the event of any complications.

It was officially opened yesterday by the High Sheriff of Norfolk, Nicholas Pratt, who was accompanied by his wife, who gave birth to their three children at the hospital.

They were joined by Alfie, one of the first babies to be born in the new facility along with his parents Roxanne Smith and Ian Knight, trust chairman Edward Libbey, and a host of health professionals.

Ms Smith said: 'It was fantastic for us. Being able to use the room made the whole experience nicer and we felt calm and reassured when Alfie was born.'

Catherine Morgan, the hospital's director of nursing, said: 'The unit forms part of our journey of improvement and being able to provide our expectant mothers more choice is a significant achievement for the trust. We look forward to welcoming expectant mothers for many years to come.'

If you are pregnant and would like to know whether The Waterlily Birth Centre would be

recommended in your circumstances you should speak to your community midwife. Alternatively you can arrange to visit the centre by calling 01553 214635.