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Christine and Paul Collins with their daughter Amy Rose, who was born in the car park of a Pickering garden centre

PAUL Collins's 35th birthday will be one he will never forget - for it was the day he had to deliver his baby daughter in the car park of a Pickering garden nursery!

He and his wife Christine were heading to York District Hospital from their home in Lockton when Amy Rose decided it was time to make her arrival in the big wide world after being nine days overdue.

Christine had rung the hospital earlier to say baby Amy was probably due to arrive soon, but was told it was no doubt the early stages of labour and not to go the hospital too soon.

Then, says Christine, 30, she and the couple's daughter, seven-year-old Becky, had just helped dad Paul to blow out the candles on his birthday cake before he set off for work, when she realised her baby was on the way.

They had only travelled to the Forest and Vale roundabout at Pickering when the couple realised they were not going to reach York Hospital in time.

"I called the ambulance on my mobile phone at 8.53am and suddenly had to deliver 8lb 8oz bundle of joy, Amy, two minutes later," said digger driver Paul, 35, who pulled into the car park at the Steam and Moorland garden centre in Malton Road, Pickering.

Both Christine and Paul agreed the experience was "scary".

"Paul had to virtually catch her as she was being born, it all happened so quickly," said Christine.

But Amy arrived safe and well after an ambulance station staff member talked Paul through the delivery procedure on his phone.

Diane Davies, manager of the garden centre, and Steve Bean, of next door Rogers Garden Centre, rushed to help.

"I was so grateful to them. I really felt looked after - they were marvellous," said Christine.

Ambulance technicians quickly arrived on the scene and gave the couple reassurance and praised Paul for his midwife' role as they were driven with blue lights flashing along the A64 to the hospital where waiting maternity unit staff were on hand to help.

Later in the day, Christine was allowed home and relatives and friends were quick to respond with offers of help, flowers and congratulations cards as news of Amy's safe arrival spread.

For Paul it was a dramatic moment in his life. "I never thought I would have such a memorable birthday celebration!"

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Ambulance Service said: "After dispatching an ambulance to the scene, our emergency medical dispatcher stayed on the line to offer reassurance and to monitor both mother and baby's condition. The caller managed to stay calm and follow our instructions until the ambulance crew arrived.

"This type of situation is exactly what our staff are trained to deal with and we are always delighted when there is such a happy outcome to an emergency like this."

Paul and Christine, who have been married for 10 years, have known each other since infant schooldays, when they grew up in the villages of Bickley and Langdale End, near Scarborough.

But it was only when they were teenagers visiting the local Moorcock Inn at Langdale End that they really got to know each other, said Christine.

The family celebrations will continue this weekend when Becky celebrates her eighth birthday - after completing tests at school.

11:59am Wednesday 19th March 2008

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