Police officer helps deliver baby

The parents ran out of time to get to the hospital

A police officer became a midwife for a day when she helped a woman give birth in a car.

Pc Sheree Toombs, of St Leonard's Police Station in Edinburgh, said it was an "unbelievable" experience to have been involved in the emergency birth.

The pregnant woman and her partner, who do not wish to be named, were driving to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at about 1100 GMT on Tuesday when she went into labour, forcing them to stop and seek help at the police station.

Pc Toombs, 38, was summoned to the scene when another officer told her a woman was giving birth in the station car park.

I have had children myself, but this was different, I was going about shouting, 'I've had a baby!' Pc Toombs

Pc Toombs said: "At first I didn't believe him, but when I looked at the car the lady was on her hands and knees.

"I had a look at the lady and you couldn't see the baby's head.

"Then the mum groaned and the baby's head appeared. I just caught him in my arms and the baby did the rest."

When the ambulance crew arrived, paramedics allowed Pc Toombs to cut the umbilical cord.

The officer, who is a mother-of-two, added: "I have had children myself, but this was different. I was going about shouting, 'I've had a baby!'

"Mum was really good. She was in shock and just kept saying thank-you."

The mother and her new son are reported to be doing well.