VOLUNTEER bobby Jean Slater fulfilled her lifetime's ambition to help with a birth - and then went on to save the baby's life.
The mum-of-three, who has spent hours poring over books on midwifery, stepped in when the youngster decided it could not wait for the maternity ward.
And thankfully, she knew exactly what to do when little Emma Louise arrived with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck.
Today the 5lb 3oz baby and her mum Lisa Smithson were both doing fine.
Jean, a special constable based in Clitheroe, flew into action when a call came over the police van radio to say paramedics would not make it to Lisa's home in Henthorn Road in the town until it was too late.
Jean, 30, of Brook Street, Clith- eroe, said: "We were out near Sawley on mobile patrol when the call came in.
"I was so excited, I kept saying 'come on, come on, it's an emergency,' because it has always been my ambition to deliver a baby.
"When we arrived at the house she was upstairs on the bed and told me she thought the baby was about to arrive.
"I asked if I could take a look and the baby's head had already appeared. I just threw off my hat and jacket and did what I could.
"When I saw that the cord was stuck around the baby's head I told Lisa to stopped pushing and removed it."
Jean was travelling with full-time Clitheroe PC Dave Fish when the alarm was raised and joined PC Christopher Wheeler at the scene.
"They asked if we needed towels and hot water - I think they must have seen that on the telly," she said.
Jean has spent part of her spare time on the beat for the past 18 months and offered her services because she one day hopes to train as a paramedic.
But first she says she has to concentrate on raising her own youngsters, Danielle, 13, Domini, nine and Christian, four.
Her police boss Sergeant Lee Halstead said: "She did exceptionally well and the family are very grateful for her actions.
"Jean really did know her stuff and definitely saved the day."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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