IT WAS all hands on deck when 24-year-old Anna Hudson went into labour in the back seat of her parents’ car in the middle of a Merseyside housing estate.

People rushed out of their homes to do whatever they could, and a passing police car was flagged down to help deliver the baby girl.

The drama began in Westminster Road, Kirkdale. Anna felt her contractions coming on while she was in her parents’ car, a Hyundai Accent, which was being driven by her father Ian, with her mother Helen in the passenger seat.

She said: “When I realised the baby was coming, we started to make our way to the Women’s Hospital, but I knew the baby wasn’t going to wait that long.

“We pulled over in Westminster Road and my father flagged down a passing police car. At the same time, people came running out of their houses to see what all the commotion was about.

“It was unbelievable. They came out with towels, sheets, cardigans, and blankets. One woman even helped deliver the baby before the ambulance crew arrived, while the policeman held my head.

“When I looked up afterwards, everyone was in tears. The baby was wrapped in tin foil and we were taken straight to the hospital by ambulance.

“If it wasn’t for all the people who rallied round and helped, I don’t know what would have happened.”

Although Anna’s parents called for an ambulance via their mobile phone, they were unable to give full details about their location to the ambulance controller because of their distressed state.

Ironically, Anna had been to the hospital only few hours earlier when she thought she was about to go into labour, but she was sent home with painkillers instead.

The girl has been named Amelia, with Julie as her middle name after the woman who helped deliver her in the back of the car.

Despite her traumatic entry into the world, both mother and baby are now back home in Bootle after an overnight stay at the Women’s Hospital.

The police officer, PC Neil Dillion, was returning to Sefton from a routine journey to the St Anne Street station when he became caught up in the drama.

He took over the communication with ambulance control and, under their direction, calmed Anna and guided her through the delivery of the baby.

Sefton Area Commander Mark Matthews said: “The officer’s presence and calm demeanour clearly assisted this distressed family and he is to be commended on his quick actions.”