A FATHER took charge of a very special delivery when his baby daughter was born on a bathroom floor.

The birth happened at Angela and Chris Cawley's home in Bath Road, Dartford.

Housewife Angela, aged 33, said her labour had started at 2.30am but she delayed calling an ambulance because the labours of her other two children, Francis, five, and two-year-old John, were much longer.

The baby, named Elizabeth Jane, was born on March 27 and weighed 8lbs 13oz.

Chris Cawley, 33, said his wife had not disturbed him because he had worked late the previous night. He awoke at 6am to find her in the bathroom.

Mrs Cawley said: "When my husband came into the bathroom, I was crouching over the bath.

"I knew we weren't going to get to the hospital in time because I got the urge to push when I was in there."

Chris Cawley, who runs a company putting posters up outside shops, phoned for an ambulance but the baby was born five minutes before it arrived.

Mrs Cawley said: "The lady stayed on the end of the phone and talked to my husband the whole time. She was giving him advice like telling him not to pull the baby."

She said she had felt slightly scared but knew from the sensations it was going to be a good birth.

Mr Cawley said: "She was in some pain and I did feel a bit shaky but it's just one of those things.

"I made sure she was comfortable and just got on with the inevitable.

"I just concentrated on supporting the baby's head as she came out.

"It was a case of the baby being healthy and my wife being healthy and just being there for her. The real work is done by the mother."

Once the paramedics arrived, they cut the umbilical cord, checked the colour and weight of the baby and stayed until a community midwife came.

Mr Cawley's father Anthony, of Leysdown Road, Mottingham, said his son called him at 6am to come round as quickly as possible to look after the other two children.

The 57-year-old dry cleaner said he rushed out so quickly with his wife, Jenty, he had no time to put in his false teeth or change out of his pyjamas.

He said: "When I got to the house, my son was standing there with his baby in his arms and the ambulance had arrived.

"Chris said once he got down to it, he seemed to know what he was doing. It's one of those things, isn't it? When push comes to shove, you have just got to get in there and do it.

"This has made me so happy."

Mrs Cawley, who has been married for four years, said: "All's well that ends well and we've got a beautiful baby girl now.

"I know I've done the hard bit but it must have been really hard for Chris.

"He's the kind of person who can rise to a challenge.

"It was a team effort and will strengthen our marriage."