MORE than 300 children born thanks to IVF were celebrated at a special party yesterday (Saturday, December 8).

The event was organised at department of reproductive medicine at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.

All the children were born in the last seven years and the children and their families had the chance to meet the doctors, nurses and staff once again.

The children, aged from seven to just 11 weeks old, enjoyed Punch and Judy, magic shows, balloon modelling, face painting and arts and crafts. The highlight was a visit by Father Christmas himself.

Lead consultant, Mr Fayez Mustafa, said: “We’d really been looking forward to meeting the children and their parents again and it was so lovely to enjoy this festive time of the year with them all.”

More than 1,000 children have been born through the unit since it opened in 1993.