FIREARMS officers have been hailed heroes after helping a woman who went into labour while stuck in traffic on a major road.

The woman was a passenger in her husband’s car along the A13 in Stanford-le-Hope, heading towards Basildon when they called for help.

The Firearms officers were the closest units and came to save the mum-to-be before driving her and her partner to Basildon Hospital.

Richard Melton, Chief Inspector of the Armed Policing Team, said: “When people think of firearms officers, they associate them with significant incidents in our county.

“Yesterday, they were the quickest to respond to the calls for help of a woman in the very advanced stages of labour and a husband who was stuck in traffic.

“The woman was then rushed to hospital in one of our armed response vehicles in the nick of time.

“She was left in the care of the hospital and I hope everything went well for her and her husband.

"If you see this post and you’re okay, please feel free to send us a family photograph or some kind words.”

The incident took place yesterday, Saturday, October 12.