MORE than a billion Chinese people can’t be wrong or so hope a Gidea Park couple whose son was born on the 10th day of the 10th month of 2010.

Paul Cleaves and girlfriend Vicky Marsh, 32, joined millions of sci-fi fans and the population of China in celebrating the calendar’s luckiest date when baby William Cleaves put in his first appearance on Sunday at Queen’s Hospital, in Rom Valley Way, Romford.

Thousands of weddings were due to take place at 10.10am on 10/10/10 across the People’s Republic where it is believed to be a good omen which symbolises ‘perfection in everything.’

And proud dad Paul is keeping his fingers crossed for his 7lb 8 ounce baby boy that they know what they are talking about.

The 29-year-old IT analyst said: ““We are really delighted. I know the Chinese think it’s lucky so you never know. I hope it will be lucky in the future for him anyway. He was born exactly on the day they said as well which was good.”

Sci-fi spotters were also said to be excited as in binary numbers, 10/10/10 equals 42 – the solution to the meaning of life, the universe and everything in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books.

The three digit phenomenon only occurs 12 times every 1,000 years, with the next two being 11/11/11 and 12/12/12, after which it won’t happen again for another millennium.

Twenty-five babies were born in Queen’s on Sunday, as well as six in King George Hospital, in Goodmayes, a spokesman said.