A Green Goddess driver showed dedication beyond the call of duty when he answered a personal emergency call - to the birth of his first son.

Royal Marine Aaron Pattrick, 24, who is stationed at Broadbridge Heath, Horsham, raced home to Somerset when he heard his wife had gone into labour.

But after a round trip of 250 miles, he was back behind the wheel just 24 hours later.

Aaron got the call he had been waiting for just as he was finishing the night shift on Monday morning.

One of his colleagues immediately drove him down to Yeovil, where his wife Clare was preparing to have their baby at home.

Aaron, who is normally based at the Yeovilton Royal Naval Air Station, arrived in time to see his 23-year-old wife give birth to baby Alistair at 4.30pm.

The tot, who weighed 7lb 6oz, is a brother for four-year-old Bethany.

However, the new dad did not stay long.

As one of only four Goddess drivers at the base, Aaron was determined not to risk letting down his colleagues.

Missing just one shift, the mechanic was back to start duty at 8pm on Tuesday, little more than 24 hours after Alistair's birth.

He said: "It was fantastic to be there for the birth.

"Although I would have loved to stay with Clare and Alistair, I didn't want to be away from the base long because I knew the crew would need me."