A mother gave birth to a baby boy in the early hours in her car outside the maternity unit at the William Julien Courtauld Hospital, in Braintree where campaigners have been pressing for a full round-the-clock service.

Essex Ambulance spokesman Murray Macgregor said a paramedic was on the scene in three minutes after a call at 3.23am on Wednesday, but five minutes later the woman gave birth in the back of her car.

Soon afterwards three community midwives arrived to take the mother and her newly-born healthy son into the hospital.

It is believed the mother and her child were later allowed home.

Published Thursday June 10, 2004

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