Baby Zoe Amelia is a real barbie girl - Well, barbecue girl that is.

She became the best present her father could wish for when she turned up as the surprise guest at his birthday party.

Mark Heath had just started cooking on the grill at his celebration barbecue when little Zoe decided things needed hotting up.

As friends celebrated in the back garden of his home in Hove, they did not realise they were about to be joined by the unexpected guest.

Mark's wife Gillian, who was not due to give birth for another week, had gone into labour and the couple had no time to make it to the hospital.

The emergency services were called and one of Mark's friends took over the barbecue.

Mark, 33, of Queen Victoria Avenue, said: "I had only started the barbie about ten minutes before.

"At about 9pm, Gillian felt a pop when she was laughing so we knew her waters had broken.

"When we tried to get into the car to take her to hospital she collapsed on the driveway so we realised we had to go back in.

"We closed the curtains and my friends were pretty oblivious for quite a while."

There was a moment when Mark thought he would have to deliver the baby himself until a medical crew arrived.

He said: "We had the towels out but the paramedics arrived five minutes before she gave birth.

"The whole thing took about half an hour. It must be the fastest labour in history.

"Once everyone realised what was going on, there were girls crying. They all went down the pub in shock."

New mum Gillian said: "Mark was an absolute star. It was quite nice to give birth at home."