Van driver Andrew Rogers made the most important delivery of his life as his girlfriend gave birth in the back of his car after a hair-raising dash through rush-hour traffic.

Andrew, 28, rushed to get partner Natasha Hardiman, 24, from their home in Wallingford to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.

But the chase paid off and as they pulled up in front of the hospital, baby Cameron popped out into the hands of waiting midwives.

The proud dad said: "He was born right outside the doors of the hospital and came out just as the midwives opened the doors of the car." Andrew was at work in Didcot preparing to make his first delivery of the day when Natasha called from their Sinodun Road home.

He said: "She phoned me up at 7am, screaming her head off, saying it had started. I came back, got the bags packed and rushed through the traffic. All the way she was screaming, while I was trying to ask the hospital for help on my mobile phone.

"I thought she was going to have the baby in the middle of Oxford but fortunately we managed to get through the traffic. When we arrived at the hospital, the staff were waiting for us. We got there just in time."

Later on Tuesday, the happy threesome were back home in Wallingford. Andrew said: "I think we both coped very well, to be honest, and all the nurses said how well we had done.

"It still hasn't really hit me yet as it all happened so quickly, but Natasha is really proud of herself and I am proud of her too."

Natasha said it was a terrifying experience but admitted it had been worthwhile. She said: "It was painful and very frightening as it all happened quite fast. It is a scary thing to happen to you when you don't know what is happening.

"It was a nightmare at the time but was well worth the experience - and I must admit I can also see the funny side of it now the pain has gone."

She added: "We arrived just in time and the midwives managed to catch Cameron as he popped out. It was very lucky as I wouldn't have known what to do otherwise."

Story date: Friday 12 February

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