LITTLE Elly Taylor had a New Year surprise for her parents this week - she was so eager to enjoy 2004, she was born while her mother took a bath.

The infant was born at her parents' Puriton home early on Sunday morning. Father, Cliff Taylor, had to deliver Elly in the tub without any medical aid, as a midwife rushed to the home he shares with his partner, Natasha Frouks.

See this week's Mercury front page for full story and photo.