Baby Grace Wetherell is blooming after being born in the back of a car gridlocked by traffic stuck by the snow.

Welcome addition - paramedic Andrea Larner with newborn Grace, Lisa and David Wetherell and their daughter Megan. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK

Mother Lisa Wetherell had left St John's Hospital, Chelmsford, at 4pm on Wednesday, when the roads were clear.

But almost as soon as she got back to her home in the Newland Springs area of Chelmsford, her waters broke.

She knew it would not be long before the baby was on its way but the weather had dramatically changed.

Mrs Wetherell and her husband, David, both 35, faced blizzard-like conditions and found themselves stuck in traffic as they tried to rush back to the hospital.

Quick-thinking Mr Wetherell flagged down a police car, which escorted the couple to the town's New London Road.

But it was too late, as the baby was on its way.

Paramedic Andrea Larner and technician John Nicholls arrived just in time, and two minutes later Mrs Wetherell had given birth to her 7lb 9oz daughter.

Published Friday January 30, 2004

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