A mother almost had a do-it-yourself nativity when she went into labour at her daughter's Christmas show.

Amanda Goldsmith had gone to the nativity show at the Willow Tree Day Nursery, Great Clacton, to watch her three-year-old daughter Hannah.

But she nearly produced her own version of the nativity as she went into labour.

Her husband, Keith, said: "She had had some contractions in the morning but they did not get any worse so she decided to go along."

During the show they got stronger and stronger. Finally in the interval Mrs Goldsmith was rushed off to Clacton Hospital maternity unit. An hour-and-a-half later she gave birth to a healthy baby boy weighing 8lbs 8ozs.

The baby, who has not yet been named, was due to be born on December 6 and Mrs Goldsmith was due to go to Colchester General Hospital's maternity unit to be induced today.

Proud dad Mr Goldsmith, of Constable Avenue, Clacton, said: "I was surprised how quickly he came along. I wasn't worried. There was not enough time to be worried."

Brenda Dearsley, owner of Willow Tree Day Nursery, said: "At the time we did not know anything about it. Then we discovered she had been rushed off."

"When we started they were there and then they had gone."

The birth was today being celebrated at the nursery. Mrs Dearsley said: "It's lovely."

Amanda, Keith and Hannah Goldsmith show off their timely new arrival

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