Officers rushed an expectant mother to hospital with just ten minutes to spare before she gave birth.

PCs James Ireland and Dan Bellingham, of Essex Police’ roads policing unit were on patrol on the A12 near Chelmsford when they were caught in rush hour traffic.

The officers were then flagged down by a man who said his wife was in labour.

The couple were worried they could not make it to hospital in time for the baby’s birth.

The officers helped the couple into the back of their vehicle and rushed them through traffic to Broomfield Hospital while a relative followed them in the car.

PC Ireland led the way through the parting traffic while PC Bellingham reassured the couple.

He used a pregnancy calculator to work out how far into labour the mum-to-be was and updated the hospital team upon their arrival.

The couple made it to the maternity ward with just ten minutes to spare before the baby boy was born.

The grateful couple named baby James Daniel after the hero officers.

PC Ireland said: “This was an amazing job for us and we were more than happy to help the couple.

“We wish them all the best with their new addition.”

James’s dad Steve said: “We can’t praise James and Daniel enough – they are heroes.

“Despite how tense the situation was for us, the minute we got in the car we felt instantly reassured and that we would make it to the hospital in time.”