Garden centre babe is named Amy Rose

2:18pm Wednesday 19th March 2008

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A BABY girl born in a garden centre has been aptly named Amy Rose by her relieved mum and dad.

Chris Collins, 30, was being driven to hospital by her panic-stricken husband Paul, 35, but knew she wasn't going to make it in time.

She came out so quickly he had to catch her so she didn't land on the pavement."

Mum Chris Collins

She asked Paul to pull over at the first opportunity, which happened to be the car park of the Steam and Moorland Garden Centre in Pickering, North Yorkshire.

Digger driver Paul rang the ambulance service but Amy Rose refused to wait until they arrived.

The 8lbs 8ozs youngster was delivered by her dad, on his 35th birthday, a few seconds later.

Chris said that in the early hours of that morning she had woken up and thought she was going into labour.

The couple from Lockton, near Pickering, called York Hospital and were told she still had some time to go and was only in the very early stages.

At 6.30am Chris and eight-year-old daughter Becky lit the candles on the birthday cake for Paul but within half an hour it was clear Chris would have to get to hospital quickly.

With Becky at a neighbour's house, Chris and Paul set off in the family's Vauxhall Corsa from their home but only made it a couple of miles before they had to stop.

Chris, who was in the front passenger seat of the car with the door open said: "Paul was on the phone to the ambulance service but I gave another push and knew she was coming.

"My husband did it all by himself, he delivered her, he was brilliant.

"We both come from a farming background so we have both seen sand helped with the birth of cows and sheep - but he's a digger driver by trade.

"It was his worst nightmare really but he just did what he knew he had to do.

"It was quick and it was scary. I am just glad that Paul was there. She came out so quickly he had to catch her so she didn't land on the pavement.

"She was 8lbs 8ozs so she wasn't tiny when she shot out she was quite a lump."

Diane Davis, manager of the garden centre, was at work as the drama unfolded.

She said: "I went outside and asked if there was anything wrong, he said "yes we're having a baby."

"I asked if he needed anything and he said "two cups of tea and a glass of water."

"Paul was quite calm. Right at the end I said "congratulations" and he had a great big beaming grin across his face.

"We sent a bunch of flowers to York Hospital when they got there."

Yorkshire Ambulance Service said: "We are pleased there has been a happy outcome."