A MUM gave birth to her baby girl in the front seat of her partner’s Honda Jazz...while it was tearing towards hospital.

When Hollie Pankhurst went into labour she thought she had plenty of time because her first birth lasted 36 hours.

But things progressed more quickly this time and she faced a panic-stricken drive in the rush hour to get to hospital.

However, baby Jess arrived minutes before Hollie and partner, Bradley Lee, arrived.

Hollie, 32, of Abberton, said: “I had been up since about 3am but I had no other urgent signs so my midwife said to stay at home.

“I dropped my daughter off with my mum and dad at about 7.30am and as we were on our way to the hospital the contractions became quite bad.”

The couple were travelling as quickly as possible along Mersea Road, towards Colchester General Hospital in Turner Road.

Hollie said: “We realised it was getting quite bad, I was screaming to Brad.

“I’d had an epidural with my first daughter Evie so hadn’t felt the last bit of labour and had no idea what it felt like.

“As we were going down Southway, I thought ‘she is going to come’, whipped my leggings off and there was a head.

“As soon as my partner looked, he saw the head and said ‘oh my God’.

“I got an overwhelming sensation and thought ‘I have got to push’ and out she came and he slammed the brakes on.

“The next thing I know I am picking her up off the footwell.”

Bradley, 25, stopped the car in Lexden Road, close to St Mary’s School.

Bradley shouted to a care assistant who was walking past for help and she pulled off her jacket to cover Hollie and her new born.

Hollie said: “I was quite calm, but Brad was shocked.”

Bradley called the ambulance service and within five minutes a paramedic car arrived.

A short while later an ambulance was on the scene and took Hollie and Jess to hospital.

Hollie added: “It was all a bit of a shock, but she cried for about ten seconds, then was sucking on her fingers, quite content.

“There were schoolchildren and God knows who walking past.”

Jess Ella weighed in at 5lbs 8oz and after checks at the hospital she and Hollie were home that afternoon, ready for her to meet her big sister Evie, ten.

Jess arrived six days before her due date.

The family, who include the Daily Gazette’s advertisement manager Michael Long, have been busy introducing their new addition to the world since Monday’s arrival.

Jess joked that one of their top jobs would be to get the car valeted.

The couple would like to reunite the care assistant with her jacket.

If it was you, contact the Gazette newsroom on 01206 508414.