A MOTHER from Wilburton gave birth to her baby son in a car parked on a stretch of the A10 last week. Helen Ost, and her husband Toby, from Wilburton, were forced to pull over on a stretch of the busy road near Fen Ditton after their baby Leo started to a

A MOTHER from Wilburton gave birth to her baby son in a car parked on a stretch of the A10 last week.

Helen Ost, and her husband Toby, from Wilburton, were forced to pull over on a stretch of the busy road near Fen Ditton after their baby Leo started to arrive less than an hour after the contractions started.

Mr Ost, who has a PhD in Chemistry, discovered that the baby's shoulders were already showing when the car came to a halt and he decided there and then that they wouldn't be able to make it to Addenbrooke's Hospital before the baby was born.

Recalling the frantic birth Mrs Ost told the Ely Standard: "We had just settled down to watch The Apprentice on television when I started to feel the contractions. I soon realised that there were only two minutes between them and we decided to try and head to the hospital.

"My waters broke just as we passed Waterbeach and from then on it was extreme panic as I realised the baby wasn't going to wait. We pulled over to the side of the road near Fen Ditton and my husband delivered Leo."

Mrs Ost gave birth to a Leo just before 10pm and continued on to the hospital for a check-up with the baby wrapped in her two year-old daughter's blanket. Their evening was dampened somewhat though, as in their rush to get to the hospital they were flashed by a speed camera, a penalty the couple are hoping they can get overturned.

Baby Leo weighed in at 8lbs 50z and is said to be doing fine after his eventful start in life.

0014HD0409.Helen and Toby Ost at home with baby Leo.

Photo: HELEN DRAKE