A GRANDMOTHER helped deliver her first granddaughter in a cramped en-suite bathroom using tips she picked up on hit TV show "Call the Midwife".

Baby Iris made a speedy entrance into the world with grandmother Carole Richmond stood in the bath ready to catch her as daughter Claire Austin took just 10 minutes to give birth.

The "squeamish" 59-year-old rushed to her daughter's aid after hearing her shout that her waters had broken at Mrs Austin's home in Moreton on Saturday, February 28.

"I've had four children myself but that is not the same as being at the other end.

"I have been watching Call the Midwife on television so I think perhaps I picked up a few tips because they're always doing this kind of thing.

"It was just a great big relief that everything was alright.

"I think the adrenalin kicked in because I am usually quite squeamish.

"It was just so quick but I managed to get in there in time.

"After a few seconds later there was her little face looking up at me. I managed to catch her and gather her up in the towels.

"It all happened so quickly that we could only estimate that she was born at 8pm."

Mrs Austin, aged 34, had been to Cotswold Birth Centre in the morning but as she was in the very early stages of labour she was sent home.

She said: "I thought I had ages to go and all of a sudden I didn’t have ages to go.

“There was no chance of going anywhere. Luckily my mum was there.

“We were putting my son to bed, it was about 7.30pm, my contractions had been completely manageable, they were getting closer but I wasn’t in any great pain.

“I was reading him a story and then I had a really painful contraction. I had four or five more painful contractions. I went to the loo and my waters broke.

“I got off the loo onto all fours. I was in the en suite so it’s really small – I couldn’t move. My mum grabbed a load of towels, climbed over me into the bath. Within two or three contractions she was born.

“She was fine, she was pink, she cried straight away.”

Described what her mum did as “just amazing” and said she felt “utter relief, complete shock that it was so quick but utter relief and then this real sense of amazement.”

Mrs Austin said: “I was lucky. My mum is the most squeamish person as well. She is the kind of person who would faint having her own blood taken.

“The fact that she held it all together and delivered her – my mum had to do everything. All my mum’s experience came from Call the Midwife – and having four children of her own helps.”

A midwife and an ambulance crew, who were described as "amazing" arrived at around 9pm.

The family were allowed to stay at home as the medical professionals were happy with mother and baby's health.

Mrs Richmond, who also has grandsons Rupert, three, and Percy, one, said: "I didn't get home until 3am but I couldn't sleep because of the adrenalin.

"I stayed up and washed a bundle of towels for them because we had used so many and then I was up before 7am.

"It has been quite an experience.

"Claire did very well and it will be something to tell Iris when she grows up.

"Baby Iris is flourishing, she has lots of dark hair and seems to be very content.

"It's a lovely bond we will have."