But instead he enjoyed his turkey dinner at Macclesfield Hospital.

For his girlfriend Helen Gavin gave birth to their son Jake on Christmas morning.

"Jim said that he would cook the dinner at Christmas so I could rest," said Helen. "But Jake got him out of it."

Jake was born four weeks early weighing 5lb 8oz and is so tiny that 'newborn' sized clothes are much too big for him.

On Boxing day his dad was sent out on a mission to find some premature-sized sleepsuits.

He returned to the hospital with just three white suits.

"Jake has had a mountain of clothes bought for him but they all drown him," said Helen from their home in London Road Allostock. "At least he's got things to grow into though."

As first-time parents the couple didn't know what to expect but since mother and baby arrived home on Friday they have began to get into a routine.

"We take it in turns to get up in the night but we've both forgotten what sleep is," said Helen. "For the first few nights I was staying awake to make sure that Jake was still breathing but I'm more relaxed now."

Luckily Jim, who works for a computer software company, had time off over Christmas and has been able to have his share of the feeding, changing and nursing.

"I just can't imagine being able to concentrate on work now we've got Jake," said Jim.

"It's such a wonderful feeling being here with him that I'll have trouble going back to work. But my boss had a little boy last year so I'm sure he'll understand how I feel."

The preparations for Jake's expected arrival in January were still underway when he came into the world.

He has been sleeping in a travel cot on loan from his pregnant aunt but his own cot should be delivered this week.

Jim's parents had to make a special shopping trip on Christmas Eve to buy him a car seat.

"We weren't prepared for his early arrival at all and we still haven't had chance to buy a pram," said Helen on New Year's Day. "But we had to get a car seat or else we couldn't have taken him home."

Helen wasn't worried about having a premature baby and put all her trust in the doctors and nurses at the hospital.

"I felt ready to have and the hospital staff were a wonerdful support to us both," she said. "They know more about having babies than I do so I trusted their judgement."

Helen opened her Christmas presents in hospital but said nothing compared to having Jake.

"He's the best Christmas present we are ever going to get," she said. "As soon as I held him in my arms I forgot any pain I had felt during the labour.

"Before I gave birth I couldn't imagine not having a bump but now I can't imagine life without Jake."