A MUM gave birth to her baby daughter just SEVEN MINUTES after arriving at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

And now Mrs Kay Smith has urged hospital bosses not to shift vital maternity services to Halifax.

She knows that had she and husband Chris had to drive a further six miles from Huddersfield to Halifax, their baby daughter - named Hannah - may have been born on a busy road.

"We got some fantastic support from all the staff at the Royal Infirmary and Hannah arrived without problems. But I dread to think what could have happened if we had to go to Halifax, as health bosses are proposing.

"Under those new rules, because I had problems with my first child, I would have been booked in at Halifax but we would never have made the journey by car from our home in Thurstonland in time."

Ironically, Hannah was born on the day more than 1,000 marched through Huddersfield to oppose the planned moves.

"I believe all the maternity services should remain in Huddersfield - they have a great unit with a terrific staff", said Mrs Smith.

Kay, 33, and husband Christopher, 36, had to drive from their home in Thurstonland at 6am on Saturday.

Kay was due to give birth tomorrow but went into labour at home.

Chris said: "The labour moved on quicker than we expected and we ended up making a rapid drive to hospital.

"We made the journey at speed, in a private car, at 6am when the roads were virtually deserted.

"Our baby was born within seven minutes of arrival in the delivery suite.

"I can confirm without a shadow of a doubt that we would not have completed the trip had we had to attempt the journey to Halifax.

"We only just managed to arrive at our local hospital in the nick of time, at one of the quietest times of day.

"I am very glad we did not have to make the potentially life-threatening decision on Huddersfield ring road about which of the two hospitals we thought we might be able to reach prior to our baby arriving.

"I have nothing but praise for everyone at the Royal Infirmary. All the staff I spoke to seemed to be very much opposed to the proposed plans."

Mrs Smith is now back at home with Hannah, who weighed in at 7lb 1oz.

The couple have a son, Owen, who is two.

Mrs Smith said: "There were complications with Owen's birth and we were told that in cases like that, in future patients would have to go to Halifax.

"We could not have made it in time."