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A SPECIAL early morning delivery arrived at a Sainsbury's store on Monday when baby Jade White decided to enter the world in the car park.

Proud parents Alison and Mark White have already been back to the store with their 8lb 10oz daughter to thank staff who came to their aid.

The birth, in the back of a Ford Orion, was the talk of the store yesterday.

Mr White, 29, of Goldings Close, Haverhill, said he faced a dilemma when wife Alison went into labour, but rush- hour traffic would have meant a 45- minute trip to hospital.

Mr White thought he had plenty of time, as the couple's first child Keeley, four, took eight hours to arrive.

But Jade Louise had other ideas.

"We had picked up Alison's mother who lives behind Sainsbury's and it was a choice of either getting stuck in the rush-hour traffic or pulling into the car park and calling for an ambulance.

"It certainly wasn't your average Monday morning for the staff at Sainsbury's, but they were great. The lady helped with her breathing and put cool hands on her head.

"I could not believe how quickly she arrived. We got to the car park at about 7.04am and by 18 minutes past she was born. We had someone from the ambulance service talking us through it and by the time the paramedics arrived she just popped out. We knew the second child comes more quickly, but not that quick," Mr White said.

Jade was taken to hospital for a check-up, but mother and baby were both doing so well they were back home again by 2pm and their first call was to the Sainsbury's store.

Steve Saville, the Haverhill store's first-aider, who helped with the birth with co-worker Frances Noble, admitted he needed a brandy by the time it was all over.

"It was quite a shock, I've got two children, but I didn't have to deliver them. They certainly don't go into any detail about giving birth on first aid courses," he said.

Elaine Marshall, acting store manager at Sainsbury's, said all the staff were thrilled by the birth and Jade would be receiving free nappies for a year, together with other gifts.