Giving birth is stressful at the best of times but the anxiety is usually reserved for the mum.

But for two Sussex couples it was the fathers who were left holding their babies this week.

Both performed the delivery with a phone in one hand as they were talked through the motions by ambulance staff.

They followed the advice to the letter and watched in awe as their healthy babies came into the world.

Suzanne and Lee Harding from Saltdean and Steve and Rachael Horn, of Langley Green, Crawley, had the same amazing experience on Wednesday morning.

Lee, 42, and wife Suzanne, 33, were expecting their baby today, but as the contractions started, then became more frequent, Lee dialled 999.

He was put on to Jacqui Bennett, a trainee in the ambulance control room, who has only been with Sussex Ambulance Service for the six weeks.

Lee said: "I told them she was in the bathroom and that the baby was about to be born. The next thing was the baby's head was out and I kept the phone line to the ambulance control open the whole time.

"I then handed Lucy to Suzanne and the ambulance arrived four minutes later.

"I felt extemely emotional and I would have to say it's probably the proudest moment of my life, to deliver my own baby."

Lucy Olivia was born a healthy 8lb 6oz.

Jacqui, 31, said it was her training that got her through and she did not panic as her supervisor Alexis Crundwell, 22, was right beside her.

Just an hour later another call came into ambulance headquarters in Lewes.

Steve Horn had got up early to watch Sussex's Jo Goode playing in the Olympics when his wife Rachael told him their baby, due last Friday, might be on the way.

Steve, 39, dialled 999 and was put through to Emma Relf, 20, an ambulance control room officer from Hove, who talked him through the delivery.

Steve said: "The head came out there and then and Emma's asked me if everything was all right. I said I wasn't sure, but it's purple. Then another contraction happened and the baby came out and I caught it in the slips.

"It seemed like forever, but maybe a minute or two later the ambulance arrived."

Rachael, 33, an inquiry office assistant for Sussex Police, said she was thrilled with Tyler, born at a healthy 8lb 6oz.

She said: "I think the husband can feel quite intimidated in the hospital, but it's actually quite nice it happened this way.

Emma, who works in the control room, said: "The baby came out really quickly and it was all very exciting."