LITTLE Amber Draper was in such a hurry to be born that her mum had to give birth on the side of a road.

Mum Michelle Draper, 29, started having contractions at around 10.30pm on April 6.

Having endured a 52-hour labour with her first child Paige, two, Mrs Draper, of Rogerstone, thought she was in for the long-haul and decided to wait a few hours before going to Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital.

She phoned her mum, Jan Price, 56, and her mum’s off-duty midwife friend Cath Baker, 59, who came to see if she was OK.

After a few hours Mrs Draper wanted pain relief and despite no signs of the baby being on its way, she decided to go to hospital.

Mrs Baker agreed to drive her and the pair left in her Porsche Boxster, with the dad-to-be set to follow.

But with every contraction Mrs Draper had to get out of the car to try and get comfortable and by the time they reached Bassaleg Road, near Western Avenue, just over a mile from the hospital, she was in such pain she could not get back in.

She said: “Cath turned to me and said ‘the baby’s coming’.”

Mrs Baker called for an ambulance but Amber, who was six days overdue, couldn't wait even a few more minutes to be born.

Mrs Draper gave birth to her daughter standing up and holding onto the car on the side of the road.

She said: “There were cars going past. I dread to think what people would have thought if it was in the middle of the day. Thank goodness it was dark.”

The paramedics arrived just in time to see Amber being born at around 1.30am weighing 8lbs 8oz.

Mrs Draper said: “My maternity jeans were ruined, but she is healthy and is absolutely fine. She’s perfect.”

“Thank goodness Cath was there,” she added.

Meanwhile, Mrs Draper’s husband was at the Royal Gwent worrying that his wife may have been involved in an accident, when staff said she wasn’t there.

They were later reunited in hospital where mum and baby had checks before being allowed home later Wednesday.

The paramedics who attended the call, one of which had finished his training just five days before, sent the family a congratulations card and joked they should name the baby Porsche.

And although the name Amber is a fitting tribute to Newport County's recent success, the couple say they simply liked the name.