A SPECIAL constable turned midwife on the side of a busy

road when an unborn baby refused to wait for the hospital.

SC Simon Bale and colleague PC Simon Penny were dealing with

an incident on A39 in Minehead, West Somerset, when they saw

another vehicle pull up.

Driver Wayne Green leapt out and called for help explaining

his partner Helen Bradbury was about to give birth.

The officers called for an ambulance, but it soon became

apparent the unborn baby was not about to delay its arrival

into the world on Saturday.

Conveniently Chris Moiser, of the nearby Tropiquaria Animal

Centre, was close to hand and called his business partner, Jane

Bassett, who was until recently a theatre nurse.

She and SC Bale then helped the pregnant woman as she gave

birth to baby girl Ruby inside the car on the side of the

road.

PC Penny said: "When Mr Green pulled over, SC Bale could see

baby Ruby may not wait until the ambulance arrived. We were

very lucky Ms Bassett wasn't too far away and was able to

assist. The pair did a fantastic job delivering Ruby under

difficult circumstances."