February 9, 2001 10:06: QUICK-thinking dad Trevor Pilgrim jumped from behind the wheel of his car and into the back seat to help his wife Jo give birth.

The couple, of Quarrendon Road, Amersham, had to make a last minute dash back to Wycombe Hospital after being sent home earlier in the day.

But little Joshua could not wait any longer to be born and Jo found herself giving birth in the hospital car park on Wednesday evening.

Project manager Trevor was given a helping hand by hospital midwives after he dialled 999 from the driving seat.

The relieved father-of-two told the Free Press: "I reached behind me to where Jo was lying in the back seat and I could feel that the head was already coming out.

"Luckily at this point we were already on the Amersham Hill."

Jo added: "I was a bit worried, just in case there were complications, and the cord was round his neck or something, but there was nothing I could do."

The 32-year-old had been having contractions since the morning but was sent home from Wycombe Hospital on Wednesday afternoon.

She was told her contractions were not close enough together and that her waters had not broken.

But soon after at around 6pm, Jo's waters did break and the rush back to High Wycombe began with Jo telling Trevor that she could feel the baby trying to come out.

Trevor managed to get to the maternity entrance to the hospital and leapt to the aid of his wife.

Baby Joshua was born just moments after the midwives ran out to help.

Midwife Hilary Hole said: "I didn't even have time to introduce myself to Jo until after the baby was out. Then I looked at her and said 'Hello, by the way I'm Hilary."

The whole birth took just 37 minutes from when her waters broke at 6pm to when Joshua was born in the car at 6.37pm.

Yesterday Jo said that, despite the last minute rush, she was feeling very well and added that both she and Trevor are delighted with their emergency arrival.

Baby Joshua Frederick weighed in at 7lb 15oz and is a brother for two-year-old Tanna.