Richard Parr A father-to-be took on the role of midwife in a pub car park after his baby daughter decided she couldn't wait to get to hospital before making her entrance into the world.

Richard Parr

A father-to-be took on the role of midwife in a pub car park after his baby daughter decided she couldn't wait to get to hospital before making her entrance into the world.

Stephen Wright was driving his 27-year-old wife, Sarah, to hospital when they realised that their baby daughter, who was five weeks premature, was about to be born.

So Mr Wright, 34, of Fakenham, an unemployed ground worker, drove his dark blue people carrier vehicle into the car park of the the Parson Woodforde at Weston Longville and within a couple of minutes tiny Felicity Kaye was born while mum was sitting in the front passenger seat.

As soon as Mr Wright realised that the couple's child was on her way he telephoned the ambulance service and the operator gave him step-by-step instructions into his mobile phone.

He was just about to give the baby mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, because she appeared not to be breathing, when the paramedics arrived and took over.

“Although I have a people carrier vehicle, my wife was sitting in the front passenger seat so there wasn't much room but the ambulance control people, and the paramedics when they arrived, were absolutely fantastic. We would like to sincerely thank them for their speedy response and for all their help,” said Mr Wright.

He explained that there were no other vehicles in the car park when the drama started at just before 3.30pm on April 11 because the pub is closed for refurbishment.

“My wife laughs and says she was pleased no one was there because she wasn't looking at her best on the front seat giving birth,” he said.

“We have to say a big thank-you to the ambulance control people who talked me through what I needed to do but it all happened in a matter of minutes before the baby arrived at 3.35.”

Because she was premature, Felicity was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where she spent five days in the neo natal intensive care unit.

The couple were allowed to take their latest addition to their family home to St Peter's Close at Fakenham on Friday and Mr Wright says that mother and baby are doing fine with little Felicity quickly putting on weight.

Waiting to welcome baby Felicity home was the couple's three other children, five-year-old Joshua, Benjamin, four, and two-year-old Eleanor. Mr Wright also has daughter, Khloe from a previous relationship. Mr Wright said that none of his four other children arrived in such a dramatic way.