ALTHOUGH 2016 has been a turbulent year, Bradford on Avon couple Marta Pargana and Luke Chambers ended it in the best possible way, celebrating the birth of a baby boy on Christmas Day.

Santiago finally arrived at 1.30pm, after nearly 24 hours of labour at Bath’s RUH, weighing in at 8lb 1oz.

The exhausted couple, who both work as nurses at the hospital and have been together for two and a half years, returned to their home in Poulton on Boxing Day.

“I have probably slept for about three hours in the last three days but I do not care, we are just both so happy, he is perfect,” said his 31-year-old mother.

“I went into Labour on Christmas Eve at around 3pm so it was a long time but here we are together, safe and healthy.

“The staff at the hospital were just magnificent. They were so supportive, helpful and reassuring, I cannot speak highly enough of them.”

Although he is only a few days old, Mr Chambers, 28, believes Santiago has his chin and his mother’s nose.

“We both think he looks like us in different ways. Sometimes he looks more like me and other times he looks like Luke,” she said.

“He has been a very good little boy. He also seems to be very observant, eager to take in his new surroundings.”

During the pregnancy Ms Pargana developed a craving for olives, despite previously hating them.

“I would not touch them before but I could not get enough of them during my pregnancy,” she said.

“Now Santiago is here I have no intention at all to eat them again – I will not go near them.”

Now Ms Pargana is looking forward to a well-earned rest.

“I am looking forward to a relaxing few weeks and having a bit more sleep. All my friends and family have bombarded us with messages, and love and support, and we really appreciate it,” she said.

Ms Pargana, an avid football fan and a supporter of the Portuguese national team, said there will be no split loyalties as to whom Santiago supports.

“I definitely will raise him to support Portugal as the England football team have not done so well for a while," she said.

"We just won the Euros and we have Cristiano Ronaldo,” she said.

“Also my husband is not that interested in football so that works out well for me.”