A NEW mum has thanked two St John Ambulance trainees for helping her avoid giving birth to her baby girl on the grass verge of a busy ring road.

Instead Becky Hughes, 37, was helped into the ambulance and baby Lily Frances was born in the back of their ambulance as they tried to reach hospital.

Becky, from Copmanthorpe, York, was expecting a home birth but decided to set off for the maternity ward with husband, Darren, in their car at after their community midwife was called to another birth.

About two miles from York District Hospital, she realised she wouldn't make it and they flagged down a Yorkshire Ambulance Service rapid response vehicle and a paramedic stopped to help.

Just then, at about 9.40pm two St John Ambulance staff, trainee advanced technicians Emma Whittaker, 29 from Stockton and Matthew Casemore, 39, of Wheatley Hill, County Durham, came upon the scene as they were driving back to their Thirsk base.

Emma said: “The mother was already out of the car and looked like she was trying to give birth. She was frantic at that stage. She was of course in a lot of pain.

“With the help of the paramedic, we got her into the ambulance. We decided at that point we needed to drive her to hospital. The paramedic came with us in the ambulance and Darren was following behind.

“As soon as we set off, Becky started to have the baby. I supported the baby's head as it came out and made sure the cord did not get caught around her neck. I told her when to push. Matt was driving and the paramedic helped me and checked everything was going right. I then handed the baby to mum, and we clamped the umbilical cord.

“It was a shock but my training kicked in and I just got on with it. I thought I was on my way home and certainly didn’t expect to be delivering a baby."

Mr Hughes said: “Emma immediately took control as my wife was in a lot of pain, was panicked and about to give birth on the grass verge by the side of the road. Our daughter, Lily Frances was born a few minutes later at 9.50pm weighing 7lb 4oz. We were so lucky to see both crews, but especially thankful to Emma for leading the way. We would have had a grass verge baby otherwise."

Emma added: “I asked if I could have a hold and they said yes, of course. Dad was hugging me. He was so happy it hadn't happened at the side of the road without us.”

The overjoyed couple have another child, Bradley, three, who was staying with family.