Natalie Cartwright, 19, of Sewerby Road gave birth to baby Dylan on Monday, February 15 – and the former Headlands School and East Riding College student said that the experience was "fantastic".

Natalie said: "It was really good, I weirdly quite enjoyed giving birth!

"It was a nice experience because the staff there were really good.

"It didn't bother me that he wasn't born in Bridlington because I was born in Scarborough anyway."

After being driven by her mum, Sue, to Scarborough Hospital in the early hours of last Monday morning, Natalie was transferred to the new midwifery unit when it opened at 8am and gave birth to Dylan later that afternoon.

Dylan weighed a healthy 9lb 9oz and Natalie said she is enjoying motherhood.

She said: "It's been nice to get out and about with him.

"He's a very calm baby and sleeps really well, which is good for me!"

Natalie will attend follow-up appointments at Bridlington Hospital, which still provides ante-natal and post-natal support.

The £1.5 million midwifery unit opened at Scarborough Hospital in early February, though it had been stood empty for several months as the health trust had difficulty finding qualified midwives to staff the unit.

It is currently opening part-time, between 8am and 8pm, but hopes to be fully operational by April 1.

There was opposition from many local residents over the closure of Bridlington's midwifery unit.

The change came after the Government's health advisory board, the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, recommended that midwifery-led deliveries should be transferred to Scarborough from Bridlington, Whitby and Malton hospitals.