S-no-w stopping new arrival

Mrs Hancocks, 38, a freelance writer and teacher, said: "I went into labour at about 1.30am on Thursday and the hospital said we would need to phone for an ambulance to take me to Wycombe Hospital. When they got here I was quite far along and the ambulance couldn't get to the house so I would have had to go in a 4x4 and transfer to the ambulance, which all seemed quite complicated."
"It was disappointing that the midwife couldn't get there but people can't take unnecessary risks. We would have gone to hospital because at the end of the day you have to do what's best for the baby. But we weren't sure we would have made it to the hospital."
South Central Ambulance Service technicians Kevin Wheal and Christian Bloomfield offered a solution closer to home. The crew, who are trained in emergency birthing procedures, delivered the latest addition to the family at 3.50am - Esme Rose, weighing 8llbs 11, in the comfort of the couple's bedroom.
Mrs Hancocks said: "I was delighted, absolutely over the moon. We were both very glad we were able to be at home. I think I had gone through all that worry when we had the first snow before Christmas. We were a little bit concerned about how it would affect things but it all worked out brilliantly in the end."
It was not the first time they had faced an unpredictable birth - their second child Thea, who came in just 45 minutes, was delivered at home by fund manager James, 39, just as a midwife was arriving.
She added: "Kevin said he had delivered babies before but for Christian it was his first birth so I think it was very special for him. They were so calm and capable and we are very very grateful to them.
"Esme was completely unfazed. She is so serene and very happy."
The home delivery meant the Hancocks' other children Oliver, four-and-a-half, Thea, three, and Adam, a year-and-a-half, were among the first to visit their new sister.