A city taxi driver told today how he helped deliver a baby in the back of his cab.

Fred Cornish has seen some things in the back of his taxi but never in his career as a driver has the 62-year-old had to contend with a new born child.

The drama unfolded when Mr Cornish was called to pick up nine-months-pregnant Becky Fox from her Mile Cross home after her waters broke.

The 24-year-old was hoping she would make the 2.3-mile journey to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital without giving birth but the impatient baby girl was not going to wait.

Ms Fox gave birth to 5lbs 8oz Gemma-Louise in the hospital car park on the back seat of Mr Cornish's Skoda while the taxi driver held her hand.

And Mr Cornish didn't even keep the meter running - instead he just charged her the standard fare for the journey.

Mr Cornish, 62, who lives on the Mile Cross estate, said: “Becky was in the back seat of the cab saying that the baby was on its way. She wanted to push but I told her to do her breathing exercises.

“When we got to the hospital the baby's head was popping out and her mum rushed in to get help.

“Luckily two midwives and a nurse were then coming out for a bit of fresh air, but it was all over by then.

“The baby had slipped out and was lying on the back seat of the taxi. I held her hand as the baby was born. I have got children of my own and I was a bit shaken up, but it's a wonderful thing to be present when a baby is born.”

Ms Fox, who lives in Hauteyn Court and was due to have her baby last Thursday, said she called for the taxi at 3.15am on Saturday when she started feeling unwell.

Ms Fox, a shop assistant at Earlham Shopper at the Earlham West Centre, already has two children, Courtney, six, and Aaliyah, four. She said: “I went to the toilet and sat down and the waters broke. My partner, Dean Woodhatch, rang for Fred, who's a friend and a taxi driver. I wanted to pick up mum because I wanted her to be with me.

“All I really remember in the taxi is telling myself to keep pushing. But I was the laughing stock of the hospital ward. They all kept saying she's the one who had her baby in the back of a taxi cab.”

Her mother Marlene Kerslake, 44, of Motum Road, said: “I had to undress Becky in the back of the taxi. When we got to the hospital I ran in to get help, but the baby had already slid out and was lying on the back seat. When I got back to the car the baby was out and Fred was holding Becky's hand. “

Simon Beavis, from All Star Taxis in Costessey, said: “Fred has had a bit of banter from the rest of us about what happened. It just goes to say that no job is too big for taxi drivers - we even deliver children.

“But seriously, I can never remember this happening in one of our taxis before.”

T Have you had to make an unexpected delivery or do you have a heart-warming story for us? Ring reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.

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