Woman gives birth on M42 after getting stuck in traffic near Birmingham

A picture has been released of a baby who was born on the motorway after his parents got stuck in traffic near Birmingham. She went into labour on the M42 after being caught in long delays between Junction 7A and 7 on Saturday (30 April) afternoon.

Her quick-thinking husband pulled over onto the hard shoulder to call for help, but after just 20 minutes, the woman gave birth to a healthy baby boy in the back of the couple's Vauxhall Zafira. With traffic gridlocked, paramedics struggled to reach them in time, but were able to offer assistance at a motorcycle museum nearby.

PC James Barry praised the baby's father for his swift actions under pressure. "By the time we arrived mum had done all the hard work and we there to make sure everyone was OK," he told Sky News.

"The husband did the right thing and pulled over onto the hard shoulder and called us for help. He told us that it had all happened so fast that within 20 minutes of his wife going into labour she had given birth.

"The ambulance crew were struggling to get to us as the motorway was blocked, so we blue-lighted the family to the motorcycle museum where the crew were able to meet us and take over," he said.

The mother and baby, who was named Tommy, are now said to be "doing well" after the very unexpected motorway delivery.