Eight-year-old Ross Adolph with baby brother Harry and parents Karen and Chris at home in Winterslow.A QUICK-THINKING eight-year-old turned midwife when he helped to deliver his baby brother.

Ross Adolph rushed to help his mother, Karen, after she suddenly went into labour with her fourth child, Harry, at the family's Winterslow home.

Realising there was no time to get to hospital, and with her husband Chris away at work, Mrs Adolph (33) turned to her oldest son.

"Ross realised I was in pain and did everything really quickly," she said. "He helped me to put plastic sheets on the bed, kept his younger brother and sister calm and rushed to get me towels to wrap the baby up when I needed them.

"I had called Chris and the midwife, who were on their way, but everything happened so fast."

By the time Mr Adolph (44) had raced home from the Mercedes Benz garage in Newbury where he works, Harry had been born.

"Ross met me at the door looking very pleased with himself," he said. "He just announced, 'She's had it',"

Harry suffered no ill effects from his hasty entrance into the world and weighed a healthy seven pounds.

"It was quite a scary moment when I was waiting for his first scream," said Karen.

"But he is fine, and it was very reassuring to have Ross there - he was a real star."

Mrs Adolph also had quick births with her son Tom (five) and daughter Bethany (four), but Harry, who was two weeks old yesterday, was the fastest yet, in just 90 minutes.

"It took us by surprise," she said. "I felt the first twinge about ten past eight and by nine forty-five he was born. He was only four days early but didn't hang around."

Ross has been hailed a hero for his quick actions and was presented with a Special Award by his headteacher, Christine Bagley, at West Tytherley School.

"I'm very proud of him," said his mum. "He didn't panic and did exactly what I asked him. The midwife, who arrived shortly after Harry was born, was really impressed.

"Not every eight-year-old could do such a good job of delivering their baby brother and Ross was brilliant."

But despite his early work experience, Ross is not considering a career in midwifery. "I don't know what I want to do yet," he said. "But I wouldn't want to deliver babies because they are all white and slimy when they are born."