When baby Aiden decided it was time to enter the world there was no time for his mum to make a dash to hospital.

Rebecca Quinn, 17, from Worthing, had not been due to give birth for another week but nothing was going to stop her son's arrival.

And after a frantic phone call to paramedics, the baby was born after a labour on the kitchen floor of his grandmother's house - just in time for his dad's 21st birthday.

Proud Richard Evans, who celebrates his landmark birthday today, said: "I had called for an ambulance but I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the baby's head.

"It was such a relief when the paramedic arrived. He was fantastic."

Rebecca, who gave birth after an hour and 40 minutes in labour at 12.30pm, said: "I just had to push. The first contraction really hurt but after that it wasn't so painful."

Paramedic Graham Andrews had dashed to Horney Common, near Uckfield, to be by Rebecca's side in a new rapid response car yesterday morning and delivered Aiden.

He said: "She had been in labour for nearly two hours, which is a very short time for a first birth."

Mr Andrews has been in the Sussex Ambulance Service for 25 years and Aiden was the second baby he had delivered.

After a checkover by a midwife, Rebecca, who was due to have Aiden at Worthing Hospital, did not need any hospital treatment.

The family plans to set up home in Crowborough.

Aiden's middle name is Ray after both his parents' grandfathers.