LITTLE Hannah Eastham could not wait to come into the world just in time for Christmas.

For she was born in the family car on a garage forecourt as her parents, Lis and Patrick, made their way to hospital.

Hannah was actually due on Sunday December 20, but mum Lis went into labour a week early, after paint stripping the stairs in the couple's home in Beckside, Carleton, the night before.

"I don't know whether that had anything to do with it or not. I started having contractions, but nothing fast or furious.

"When I had our first daughter, Emily, who is now three, I had contractions and then everything stopped when we got to the hospital. I thought it would be the same again."

The couple, who have lived in Carleton for two years, set off for Leeds General Infirmary, where Lis was due to have Hannah, at 11.10am but just 20 minutes down the road, they realised that Hannah was not going to wait for the hospital before putting in her appearance.

"We got as far as Ilkley, and I said to Pat, pull over, pull over, the baby's coming. We pulled into the Fina Service Station and it was very fortunate that it was there really!

"Pat shot out of his side of the car and shouted in through the hatch, my wife's having a baby, call an ambulance. By the time he got back the baby's head had appeared, and he was in time to catch her as she came out.

"She was here in seconds. Pat was very good, he kept really calm. It was about 10 minutes before the ambulance arrived, but it went very quickly."

Patrick, who works in Leeds for Price Waterhouse Coopers and Lybrand, explained that he only did what any other dad in the same situation would do.

"The only nerve wracking bit was immediately afterwards. I had read somewhere that newborn babies don't breathe for a minute or two, and had I not known that I would have panicked a bit.

"The midwives asked me if I wanted to enrol on the next midwifery course, but I'm not tempted!" he said.

The couple were full of praise for the garage staff.

"They were absolutely brilliant. They called the ambulance and did all they could for us. They were marvellous," said Lis.

And they have even considered giving Hannah the middle name of "Fina" in honour of the place of her birth. Hannah was a healthy eight pounds six ounces, and both mother and baby are fine.

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