WHEN heavily pregnant LynseyTungate felt the first twinges of labour on Monday, she thought she knew exactly what to expect after giving birth to her first child three years earlier.

WHEN heavily pregnant LynseyTungate felt the first twinges of labour on Monday, she thought she knew exactly what to expect after giving birth to her first child three years earlier.

But little Lily Anna had other ideas. Unable to delay her entrance into the world any further, the Tungate family's newest arrival made her appearance on route to hospital – with dad Richard stepping in to act as midwife.

The drama unfolded on Monday afternoon, when 29-year-old Lynsey, who lives in Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds, began feeling labour pains.

After arranging a babysitter for her three-and-a-half year old son James, the expectant mum and her husband began drivingto the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.

But the couple did not arrive in time. Instead, Richard, 34, was forced to pull over outside the Hardwick Shopping Centre, only 300 yards from the hospital, and deliver his daughter on a grass verge.

“We were only about five minutes from the hospital and I knew something was happening,” said Lynsey, who returned home with her baby daughter yesterday.

“My husband had one hand on the steering wheel and another holding the baby's head, and was trying to calm me down at the same time. Four contractions later, she had arrived.

“Once Richard had delivered Lily, on the grass verge, we drove the few extra yards to the hospital so the doctors could check us over.

“I knew that second time babies do come quicker, and once Lily's head appeared, her body followed just like that.

“I was in shock at what was happening, and at the realisation that the baby was coming and nothing was going to stop it, but the sheer adrenaline of the situation acted as my pain relief.”

Although she was due on January 4, Lily, who weighed 7lbs 7oz, was born shortly after 8pm. The whole family, Lynsey said, were delighted with their newest member.

“Our son James is ecstatic, and I now feel absolutely fine. I'm glad to be back at home so I can get some sleep,” she joked.

“I am very grateful to Richard for his speedy driving, and the fact he was there to help. He checked Lily's airways were clear, and that the umbilical cord was not wrapped round her neck.”

Lynsey joked that, had Lily been a boy, the couple would have named him Jack – after the fish and chip shop neighbouring the grass verge.

But they chose Lily, a favourite flower used in Lynsey's wedding bouquet, and Anna, the name of Richard's late mother.