A MYSTERY Good Samaritan flagged down an ambulance to help a mum who went into labour while stuck in the snow at a gridlocked Wirral motorway junction.

Paramedics - who were transporting a man who'd had an asthma attack to Arrowe Park Hospital - helped Maria Hollis into the ambulance where she then gave birth to baby Maggie in front of her bemused fellow patient.

Her fireman husband Kevin had set off from their home in Kinross Road, Wallasey, for the hospital at 2pm on Tuesday.

But like hundreds of other motorists they found themselves trapped on junction three of the M53 just after leaving the motorway.

Kevin immediately rang the hospital, where he was told he might have to deliver the child himself.

"Maria was on the back seat of the car, which was in the outside lane of the flyover," said Kevin, 31.

"We were stuck and Maria really needed to push.

"Everybody around us was sat wondering what was happening.

"I’d been on the phone for 45 minutes when I heard the ambulance sirens.

"We were frantic because it was having great difficult getting through the traffic.

"Then a man got out of his car and began to guide traffic out of the way to let the ambulance through. He was terrific.

"It turned out the ambulance already had a patient but the paramedics were amazing.

"They jumped out, put a blanket around Maria and then helped her into the ambulance.

"There was already a patient in there so I had to sit in the front seat. Then the patient got to witness the whole birth!"

Added Kevin: "It was a bit scary obviously, but the paramedics were brilliant and we'd also like to thank the man who stopped the ambulance."

Mother and baby, who arrived weighing 8lb 4oz, are fine and now back at home. Maggie is their third child.

Carys Pattinson, Paramedic from Birkenhead ambulance station, said: "I was on route to Arrowe Park hospital having come off the M53 with a patient on board whom we had treated and stabilised after he suffered a serious asthma attack.

"As I joined Woodchurch Road, which is about a mile a way from the hospital, I noticed someone waving at the ambulance.

"When I stopped to see what he wanted, he shouted that there was a lady in a parked car about to give birth.

"Given the adverse weather conditions and the fact all the roads were gridlocked, I pulled up and went to assist.

"I could immediately see the patient was minutes from giving birth and knew I had to get her in the ambulance vehicle.

"After receiving consent from the patient who was in the ambulance already, I helped Mrs Hollis into the ambulance and safely delivered baby Maggie.

"My colleague Suzanne Nicholas then drove the ambulance to Arrowe Park hospital and myself and Mr Hollis helped Mrs Hollis and their new daughter to the maternity ward, and Suzanne took the other patient to the A&E department.

"The experience was just fantastic. It is always a privilege to deliver a baby but this experience was just amazing.

"I was so pleased we were there to help the family in such a stressful and difficult situation."

Paul Townley, Operational Service Manager for the West Cheshire ambulance area, said: "The crew who handled this incident thoroughly deserve the letter of commendation they will be receiving from the Trust.

"Their quick thinking and professional manner is a tribute to the service the Trust provides to the public and I am delighted they were there to support the Hollis family yesterday."

He said the Trust would also like to congratulate the Hollis family on the birth of their new child.

* ARE you the Good Samaritan or do you know them? Please contact the Globe news desk on 906 3053.