Cleaners are makeshift midwives as Lewis is born in pub car park

Angela Crewe and Mandy Hughes were in their van ready to start work when panicked father Gordon Love, aged 35, pulled up next to them with wife Maria, 32.

Gordon was halfway through the journey between their home in Kidderminster and the Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester, after Maria went into labour early, when he realised the couple would not make it in time.

So he pulled up in the car park of the Mitre Oak pub, Crossway Green, near Stourport, and shouted for help.

Despite having no medical training, Angela, 52 and Mandy, 50, responded by pulling on their Marigolds and being makeshift midwives.

While Gordon relayed instructions from a 999 operator Angela and Mandy helped deliver the child in the back of Gordon's blue, Ford Mondeo after just five minutes.

Baby Lewis was born weighing 7lbs 6oz before ambulance crews arrived.

Mandy – who runs Chores Cleaning Services and is from Bewdley – said she and her colleague acted on instinct.

"As I arrived at the car park I saw Gordon who had his car door open," she said.

"There was a lot of screaming and he was saying to me 'please help me'.

"We pulled on the rubber gloves – and just did as we were told.

"When we got there – Lewis pretty much popped out and we put him on Maria's chest. I made sure Lewis' airways were clear and we were told to tap on his feet.

"But then Maria went into shock and I held her hand and comforted her.

"It really only hit us afterwards what we had just done. We feel like we have done something very special."