A DAD found himself using techniques he had seen on television drama Casualty to help his wife give birth.

Neil Bell was stunned when his wife Jemma gave birth in the car park of Calderdale Royal Hospital.

Just hours earlier Jemma had been sent home, despite having regular contractions.

But late on Monday evening Mr Bell, a managing director, turned midwife to deliver little Libby – with the help of two passers-by.

The dad-of-three said: “Jemma was not due until mid-April but we had some minor complications where she was diagnosed with a rare condition that meant they would induce at 37-38 weeks.

“We already have two kids so know what the crack is and on Monday Jemma was getting contractions every three to four minutes lasting 30-45 seconds a time. We went to Halifax and spent the afternoon there but were sent home at 4.30pm and told to take a hot bath.

“I rang back just over two hours later as Jemma was in severe pain and told them we were on our way in. We parked the car and Jemma walked just 10 yards towards the door and was approximately 50 feet away when Libby’s head came out.”

Mr Bell, the MD of Direct Golf UK, ran for help but had to help deliver Libby.

He added: “I had to deliver my own baby on a wet car park floor in the rain.Thank God I watch Casualty from time to time as I remembered many things like stroking the baby’s back and blowing on her to get her to cry which she did after two minutes – the longest two minutes of my life I can tell you.

“I’m quite a squeamish person and I never thought I’d be able to deliver my own baby, but the shock takes over and you have to do what is required.”

Jemma found herself leaning against a car which belonged to a Birkenshaw couple visiting a friend.

The couple came out and let Jemma and little Libby sit in the car until a midwife came out of the hospital.

Little Libby weighted just over 4lbs but is now back home and fighting fit.

Mr Bell added: “It shows just why the Huddersfield unit should never have shut down.

“The staff in Halifax were very good, the facilities and cleanliness are of a top standard, but they are just too far away.”

The couple have two other children, Megan, nine, and Thomas, seven, who were born in Bradford and Leeds hospitals.

They believe that the consultant-led maternity services should move back to Huddersfield and are backing the 6,000-plus people calling for it to return.