A FORMER Thornbury couple who became one of the first in the area to choose a naming ceremony for their baby son have done it again.

Shaun and Christine Houghton were keen on a non-religious ceremony for the naming of their first child, Max - now aged two - but had to go to Bath where registrars have been given the go ahead to perform them.

When their second son Samuel arrived last year, the couple were keen to do the same for him - and this time round they managed to arrange it a little closer to home with a ceremony last week at the Kendleshire Golf Club followed by a reception at Coalpit Heath Cricket Club.

"We are not religious but we did want some sort of formal ceremony where we as parents, together with family and friends, could make promises to Samuel," said Shaun, who lived in Thornbury for more than 30 years before moving to Coalpit Heath.

"A naming ceremony was ideal for us and a perfect way of establishing our sons' identity. It's still a relatively new idea but more and more parents are showing an interest."

Naming ceremonies carry no legal status but are a secular way of celebrating a new child and welcoming him or her into the family.

"We had five supporting adults who took vows in a similar way to Godparents at a Christening," said Christine. "They made a series of pledges in respect of Max's well-being and upbringing. It was a lovely, all-inclusive ceremony and friends and family said how much they had enjoyed the occasion."