Danny Johnson turned midwife this week to deliver his first grandson.

Whizz kid - Baby Blake with (left to right) his mother Charlotte, father Luke, grandmother Joanne, grandfather Danny, and nieces Reane and Mercedes

Grandad Danny, 39, went into action after daughter-in-law Charlotte went into labour in the early hours of Monday morning at his home in Boreham.

As grandmother Joanne, 37, looked out for the ambulance, Danny was closest to hand when Blake began to emerge and slipped into his outstretched arms at approximately 5.40am.

Paramedics arrived five minutes later. Baby Blake had arrived 23 days early. Danny said: "I'm chuffed to bits.

What a privilege to deliver your first grandchild. I was present for the births of all four of our children, but this time I wasn't an onlooker.

"Danny, a manager with W S Atkins, said: "I am currently responsible for the delivery of £13.5 m worth of housing refurbishment - but Blake's birth really was a special delivery."

Blake's aunts, Mercedes, 13, and Raene, 11, fetched blankets for the baby.Charlotte, 22 and husband Luke, 21, had been spending the weekend with his parents after travelling from their Colchester home the previous day.

Published Thursday May 27, 2004

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