TINY Freddie was so desperate to come in to the world he simply refused to wait.

Lucky then, that as doctors across the country walked out in protest at pension reforms, staff at Saxmundham Health doctors surgery were on hand.

When expectant mum Kelly Fellowes arrived she was already in full labour, presenting the practice with its first ever birth.

With no time to make it to hospital yesterday morning, Mrs Fellowes and husband Shane rushed from their Leiston home to meet community midwives Di Bultitude and Beth Thomas. Just 26 minutes later, 10lb 5.5oz bundle of joy Freddie became the surgery’s first newborn since it opened in 1984.

Little Freddie, who was expected to arrive five days earlier, on the same day as big sister Isabella’s second birthday, let out a healthy wail as he entered the world to a spontaneous round of applause from listening staff.

Mrs Fellowes, 32, who works on the county council’s corporate property team, said: “It was all a bit surreal. Thankfully, Di and Beth were very calm. They told me I wasn’t going anywhere and that the baby would be born here. They were fantastic. Without them, I think I would have panicked.”

Mr Fellowes, a 36-year-old electrician, also described the experience as surreal and praised everyone involved, including his wife, for their composure throughout.

Midwife Di Bultitude said: “Kelly rang to say she was in labour and that the baby wasn’t far away. We decided it wasn’t safe to send her to hospital. They would have been in a car on the A12 had they left.

“It was all very straightforward and Kelly did really well - she was fantastic. Everyone in the surgery was very excited. We could hear them applauding outside. It was very moving and we were all in tears.

“Any birth is special but this one was extra special. When we get our birthing unit we may have to name it after Freddie.”

The timing of Freddie’s birth was made even more notable by its coincidence with doctors across the country taking industrial action for the first time in almost 40 years, as British Medical Association members walked out over cuts to their pensions.