A LITTLE lady in a hurry kept Southampton ambulance staff on their toes.

Jessica Kavanagh-Singh was so eager to make her big entrance into the world that she was not prepared to wait for her mum to get to hospital.

Instead Joanne Kavanagh started contractions seconds after climbing into an ambulance outside her home.

The 27-year-old gave birth within minutes - with 7lb 8oz Jessica expertly delivered

by trainee ambulance technician Wayne Danson, paramedic Andy Barrett and two midwives who had raced to the scene.

Jessica had been a week overdue, but once she decided she was on her way there was no stopping her.

The suddenness of the delivery was a frightening experience for mum Joanne as her son Luke Bulpett now nine, had suffered complications at birth and subsequently needed a liver transplant.

But the calming influence of the crew helped her not to panic.

Joanne, an NVQ assessor, said: "It was a very tight squeeze with five of us in the ambulance. I was extremely panicky as my son had been so ill and I was afraid it was going to happen all over again.

"They were all brilliant. Wayne in particular was very reassuring; he was an absolute diamond. His bedside manner was very calm."

Ambulance staff had been called to Joanne's St Mary's home just after 3.10pm last Tuesday and arrived within eight minutes. The baby's father, Kamal Singh, 29, dialled 999 after they realised labour was starting - and the crew arrived to find Joanne in the advanced stages of labour.

After administering gas and air, she was helped downstairs and into an ambulance - where Jessica decided she would wait no longer.

For Wayne, based at Southampton's main ambulance station in East Park Terrace, the delivery was the perfect end to his work year.

The 37-year-old, who qualifies this week, said: "Although I was at the births of my own children, this was very special as I was virtually in control of the whole situation."

Just over an hour after the 999 call, baby Jessica had been safely transported to Southampton's Princess Anne Hospital, where she underwent checks before being allowed home the following day.