BABY Liberty Grace was so keen to come into the world that she decided not to wait until her mum, Sam Lines-White, arrived at York Hospital.

Instead, Sam and her husband, David, of Easingwold, saw their daughter being born in the back of an ambulance after the emergency vehicle pulled into a layby on the A19.

When Sam went into labour she soon realised she was not going to make it to the hospital by car, so David rang 999 for an ambulance.

Sam said: "We thought we might just be able to hang on for the hospital, but I had no idea she was going to come that fast.

"The ambulance crew arrived really quickly. They were brilliant and provided the reassurance my husband and I needed.

"Giving birth in the back of an ambulance is not what I had in mind, but on reflection I would rather it have been that way as opposed to spending hours in hospital."

The 37-year-old first-time mum has now thanked Haxby-based paramedic Jim Bryan and emergency medical technician Andy Walker, who attended the call.

Mr Walker said: "Her contractions were about one-and-a-half minutes apart when we arrived on scene, so we decided to head to the hospital, but ended up pulling over at Shipton-by-Beningbrough where she gave birth to a 7lbs 2oz girl.

"The baby girl was fine, as was the mum - just a bit shocked that she had given birth in the back of an ambulance."

Updated: 10:30 Wednesday, June 11, 2003