IT has been an exciting day at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS trust's maternity wards, with several leap year babies being welcomed to the world.

Only once every four years, February has 29 days instead of 28, with all newborn babies arriving on this date known as 'leaplings'.

Since February 29 only comes around once every four years, it means that babies born today won't officially turn one until 2028, but the quirky date didn’t mean there was any less delight on the maternity ward when the little bundles of joy arrived on Thursday.

The hospital’s first leap year baby of 2024 to come into the world was baby Patel, who was born at 12.15am weighing 9lb 3oz.

Meanwhile, Baby Brown (girl) was the third baby of the day born at 6.46am weighing 7lb 2oz, Baby Osborne (boy) was the fifth baby born at 9.04am weighing 6lb 7oz and Baby S (boy) was the seventh baby born at 12.29pm weighing 7lb 7oz.

A total of 13 babies were welcomed and now have a very special birthday.

A spokesman at the Trust said: "Congratulations to all the families and their new additions.

"Keep up to date with the Maternity Unit on Instagram - @bucks_healthcare_maternity."