When push comes to shove it’s Andy Bottrill you need around if you go into labour.

The new father kept a cool head when his baby daughter arrived before the midwife had a chance to get there.

Andy and his partner Viv Marcus were not expecting their daughter to arrive last Tuesday.

The baby was not due for another 12 days, but at about 8.30am that morning, Viv’s waters broke.

Viv, 33, who lives in Symons Avenue, Chatham, said: “I was in the kitchen and I called Andy and he helped me into the front room and we called the hospital”

The advice Viv got from the maternity unit was to not panic and come in as soon as her contractions got too painful.

But by about 10.45am Viv called them back saying she felt she was ready to push.

She added: “The hospital said they would send the midwife to us as there probably wasn’t enough time to get to the hospital.

“So I went to the front room to lay one the settee and Andy helped get some towels and things so we could to get prepared.”

But baby Alisha couldn’t wait. Andy, 31, said: “The next thing I knew was Viv shouting at me to come back into the front room as the baby was coming.

“I raced in and she was on all fours on the living room floor, I had a look and I could see the baby’s head.

“I managed to turn her over, get her trousers completely off and then the baby just shot out, she was in my hands and I was holding her."

The midwife then arrived, checked the 6lb 6oz baby over and let Andy cut the cord.

“It’s been so amazing, I can’t believe I was the first to see her and I actually delivered her," he said. "I’m still really emotional now.”

Viv said: “Tia, my elder daughter, can’t get enough of her new sister and she’s really looking forward to Christmas with the new baby.

“I must say Andy was brilliant I’m really proud of him.”