Ref. 27640A PROUD father was left holding the baby when he delivered his wife's child at home just hours after a hospital turned them away.

Baby Emily Brown was born in the bedroom of the family home in Silbury Close, Westbury, on Thursday afternoon.

Only hours before, mother Karen Brown had rushed to Trowbridge Maternity Unit fearing she was in labour but after a while nothing was happening and so she was sent home.

When she got back the mother-of-two went into labour in the bathroom and husband Ian, a 34-year-old mechanic, was on hand to deliver the baby himself.

Emily Louise Brown was born nine days early, weighing 8lb 11oz, and taken back to Trowbridge maternity unit by paramedics.

Mrs Brown said: "When I got back from the hospital I went to bed but kept waking up feeling a bit of pain and then I needed the toilet.

"I was in the bathroom and I knew I was ready. I screamed down to Ian who ran upstairs and carried me into the bedroom and I gave birth minutes later."

Mr Brown had taken time off from work and was not expecting his daughter to arrive until December 6.

The only assistance he got was an emergency 999 telephone line operator as he helped to deliver Emily.

Mr Brown said: "I've had a lot of jokes from friends about me being a mechanic and good with my hands."

The couple also look after Ian's 10 year-old son Simon and have an 18-month-old boy, Nathan.