Flood-stranded Julia Black gave birth to a baby boy after enduring a journey to hospital by tractor and lifeboat.

Julia and her partner Neil Griffin were stranded by floods at their home in Spithurst Road, Barcombe, near Lewes.

They had a bed booked at Crowborough Hospital birthing centre, but roads to the town were blocked by the deluge.

Neil, 36, said: "Julia started having contractions and it was clear the baby was on its way. We heard there were floods everywhere and it seemed impossible to get to the hospital.

"It looked hopeless, but at the last minute I thought I would just telephone the midwives to tell them what had happened.

"They were brilliant. I was told not to worry and that they would sort something out."

The birthing centre's staff devised an intricate plan for the couple to travel the 12 miles from their home.

Neil said: "When we got to the first flood we were met by a farmer with his tractor. We were sat on the trailer with an umbrella while he got us across.

"Then we were picked up by an RNLI lifeboat to take us over the next field. Everyone was fantastic - we can't thank them enough."

An ambulance met the soggy pair to speed them over the last leg of the journey to Crowborough, the only natural birth centre in East Sussex.

What is normally a 30-minute journey by car took the parents-to-be more than two hours.

Neil said: "It was touch and go at times. There were times when I thought I was going to have to deliver the baby myself.

"But we got there eventually and Julia ended up having a water birth - which I thought was more than little bit ironic."

Julia, 36, and Neil are now the parents of a baby boy weighing in at a healthy 8lb 3oz.

Neil said: "Mother and child are very well although we are yet to decide on a name.

"We were thinking of calling him Noah - but that's not official!"