A LEAP year baby gave her parents a very special surprise at the Great Western Hospital today.

Baby girl Lily Rose was the first baby born in the birthing suite at the GWH and arrived at 2.24am on the four-yearly event.

Lily-Rose arrived just over one week early and after a five and a half hour labour much to the delight of her parents.

Proud parents Sarah, and Viktor Agakijs, from Marlborough, said they were blown away by the significance of their baby’s birth date.

Sarah, 27, said the couple were delighted at the leap year arrival.

“It is very special to have a baby born on this day,” she said.

“It didn’t even cross our minds when she did arrive how unique her birthday is, we were just so surprised that she was arriving early because we thought we had another week.

"It’s hard to imagine in future years celebrating her birthday every four years and we’re just so proud to have her.

“It does feel funny to think that she’ll only have a birthday every four years, but we won’t make her wait for her presents and cards. We think this makes Lily-Rose even more special."

The beautiful baby and her parents will have to wait a few years before they can celebrate her first official birthday.

Doting father Viktor, 31, said the couple would have to do some research on leap years.

“We don’t know how we’re going to celebrate it in the near future. Before this we didn’t know much about leap years so we think we’re going to have her birthday on March 1, although that does seem a long way away at the moment,” he said.

In total two babies were born in the birthing suite on the significant day.

Lily’s unusual birth date at the end of February means she shares a birthday month with mother Sarah, who was 27 on February 1.

In future years baby Lily Rose will get to celebrate her special birthday once every four years alongside other leaplings or leapers as they are known.

She joins fellow leapers in the town including little Lauren Penney celebrating her first official birthday at the age of four and former dancing girl José Walklate who had her 22nd birthday... despite being 88.