Newborn baby Isla made a splash when she decided to arrive four days early and had to be delivered by a family friend in her parent’s bathtub.

When Liz Gordon-Hancock, of Yew Close, Witham started having contractions, her husband Bob, 31, took her to St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon.

“We went into hospital at 5am on Wednesday but there were really no signs that my labour was progressing,” said Mrs Gordon-Hancock, 31.

“The midwives told me it could go on for the next ten days as I wasn’t in established labour so we went home then at 9.17am it all went absolutely crazy.

“I just felt the head engage where is needs to be and was suddenly in full-on labour. I got into the bath tub as I thought it would be the cleanest place.

“I was in complete disbelief and shock that I was going to have my baby at home but my body was giving birth whether I liked it or not.”

Friend Nadine Hendrie arrived just in time to help deliver baby Isla, who was born at 9.38 on September 12.