Lisa Wetherell, her baby, husband David and paramedic Andrea Larner

Lisa Wetherell delivered the 7 lb 9 oz baby girl in freezing temperatures on the rear seat of a green Volkswagen Sharan.

The mother-to-be and her husband David, from Chelmsford, Essex, found themselves in gridlocked traffic on Wednesday as they tried to drive through the town to hospital after Mrs Wetherell went into labour.

The couple realised the birth was imminent and managed to flag down a passing police car to help.

They were escorted to New London Road near New Whittle Street where they parked as Lisa began to deliver the baby.

Shock at delivery

Paramedic Andrea Larner and her colleague John Nicholls were called to the scene and arrived just minutes before the birth, at about 1800 BST.

The baby, who has been named Grace, was born with a cord around her neck which the ambulance staff removed.

She was said to be doing well.

Mr Wetherell spoke of his shock at the delivery of his daughter and described the events as "amazing".

"I was getting really worried - we couldn't get through the traffic even with the police - it was awful," he said.

Lisa did really well in what must have been very scary times Paramedic Andrea Larner

"Fortunately Andrea and John turned up in the nick of time.

"They covered my daughter and wife up with blankets and took us back to St John's Hospital."

The couple had left the St John's Hospital earlier in the day at 1600 GMT, but Mrs Wetherell's waters broke when she arrived home.

They then became caught in traffic when they tried to make their way back to the maternity ward.

Paramedic Ms Larner said: "The baby came out with the cord around her neck which gave us a scare, but as soon as we got that away the little girl responded well to treatment.

"Lisa did really well in what must have been very scary times."