RORY and Helen Smith were given an extra special Christmas present on their annual visit to Center Parcs in Longleat this year, as they welcomed their first child into the world.

Reuben Smith was born on Boxing Day at Salisbury Hospital, midway through the family’s traditional visit to the holiday park and eight days later than planned.

“I’ve being going there since 1994, myself and my brothers have grown up there,” said Mr Smith, 28, who lives with his wife of two years in Kent.

“Me and Helen both knew Center Parcs and we knew it better than our hospital in Kent, which was quite comforting.

“We knew the people, knew how to get off the park quite fast and the fact we had all the family there meant we were absolutely reassured by everything.”

After initially being due to give birth on December 18, the couple made the decision to still go on the holiday with Mr Smith’s parents, Jill and Richard, his brothers, Rupert and Theo, and Mrs Smith’s mum, Kathy.

“A few days before we spoke to the midwife in Kent who said we were fine to travel and just to get our contingency plans in place,” added Mr Smith, who works as an operations manager at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

“On Christmas Day we went for a walk in the morning and later sat down for Christmas lunch.

“Helen had said she’d not been feeling quite right in the morning and then at about 5pm she went into labour so we rang security who were really good and I drove her to Salisbury Hospital.”

After spending ten hours in labour Mrs Smith, 31, and who works as a town planner, gave birth to Reuben weighing 7lbs 9.5oz at 3.15am on Boxing Day.

“The staff at Salisbury District Hospital were absolutely fantastic, they were really good and really looked after us,” said Mr Smith.

“Mum and the baby are fine, they stayed just one night in hospital and then we went back to Center Parcs.

“We’re absolutely delighted and couldn’t be happier.

“We have already booked our trip to Center Parcs next year and it’s like starting a new generation because I’ve been going for 20 years.”