Mother-of-four gives birth in Staffordshire police car

A woman and her newborn baby are back at home after she gave birth in the back of a police car in Staffordshire.

Carla Smith went into labour at about 0700 BST on Tuesday. Her partner Duncan Muckle, 27, had left for work but turned back to drive her to hospital.

The pair then got stuck in traffic in Tixall Road, Stafford. He managed to flag down a passing police car to get Ms Smith to hospital on blue lights.

As she got in the squad car a paramedic arrived and delivered the baby boy.

The new baby, who has been called Robert Michael, is Ms Smith's fourth child.

'Panic set in'

The 27-year-old said: "It was the last place in the world I'd have imagined I'd give birth.

"We'd already chosen the name Robert, but now he's having the middle name of Michael after the officer who came to our rescue."

Robert's middle name is Michael after the officer who came to their rescue

Mr Muckle said he pulled over to wait for an ambulance after the car was delayed by another red light.

But he said "panic really set in" when the 999 operator told him his partner needed to lay down and prepare to give birth.

"I stood outside the car and had to really think and realise what was going on," he said.

And lucky enough I saw the officer and and ran straight over and flagged him down."

Pc Michael Barnett, 45, who is himself a father-of-five, said: "I just did what I could to keep mum and dad calm.

"I wanted to get them to hospital as soon as possible, but little Robert obviously had other plans."

He added he was "really touched" that little Robert Michael has been given his name.

The officer of 20 years had been heading towards the force's Cannock Road site in Stafford, when he was flagged down.

Robert Michael who weighed 7lb 7oz was then taken to hospital.

He was allowed home with his mother after just a few hours to meet his sisters Rose and Violet, aged eight and five, and brother Eden, aged one.