TOM Bluett found himself more hands-on than most new dads when son Teddy made an early appearance on the way to hospital.

Mr Bluett was taking wife Kelly to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in the early hours of Tuesday last week (June 2) when their pick-up truck became an impromptu birthing unit.

Mrs Bluett said her husband handled the birth calmly and reckons he was more

panicked when she announced she was going into labour at home in Cinderford a couple of hours before.

The arrival of Theodore – to give the latest addition to the family his full name – coincides with the celebrations for the first anniversary of their Ironmasters gym in Cinderford.

Mum-of-three Kelly said: "I just knew when my waters broke at Highnam that he was on his way and it was going to be a race against time. I just wanted to push.

"I had been in labour for two hours before he arrived at Kingsholm at 3am.

"Tom was really calm and almost went into autopilot while delivering him – he panicked more when we were at home and I said I was going into labour."

The couple, who already have 10-year-old Jacob and Lucas, aged three, planned to have a water birth at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Kelly added: "Our birthing plan had completely gone out of the window.

"The births of our two other sons were very different and I'd knew with Theodore that if my waters broke he wouldn't take long to arrive.

"Before I knew it I was on my knees in the truck and Tom 'scooped' him up. It was very surreal and quick but thankfully there were no complications.

"We went to the hospital after and checked him over. He weighed 8lb 5oz. His arrival is certainly one of the highlights to end our first year on."