AN on-the-ball ambulance crew delivered a Golborne couple's seventh baby - and their first - in record time on Friday.

Thirty-nine-years-old Karen Koppel gave birth to her fifth son just minutes after starting in labour, and moments after paramedic, Michelle Marshall, and technician, Milan Kumar, arrived on the scene.

Now dad, Robert, 42, of Briar Road, wants to thanks the duo for their help in the express birth.

A stunned Michelle, who has been with the service for nine years, said: "He's so beautiful. We'd never delivered a baby before, but when we arrived at the house he was on his way.

"We were terrified, but we've been trained. We didn't have time to worry, he shot out like a bullet.

"We clamped the cord and waited for the midwife to arrive."

The baby, as yet unnamed, who weighed in at 8lb 6oz, is a welcome brother for Neil, 16, Keith, 14, Kylie, eight, Rhys, five, Sian, three, and Liam, 18 months.

Robert said: "I'd left for my job in Astley at 7.30pm on Friday, and Karen had an appointment to see her consultant at Leigh Infirmary.

"She went into labour at 9.30pm and called her mum, Pauline Iddon, to come across. My son Keith rang me at work and I dashed home.

"I rang the ambulance, but when the crew arrived to take Karen to Billinge the baby was well on his way. He was born at 10.40pm and it was their first delivery, but they were brilliant. They were chuffed to bits.

"All the children were easy births, except Rhys, who spend six weeks in the special care unit.

"Kylie was also born at home - but that time it had been arranged.

"That's enough for us now. I'm booked in - or it's the garden shears I'm told.

"However I am grateful to them both and to the midwives for their prompt action."

Michelle said: "It was a lovely job to start the day on. Karen was brilliant, in fact everyone was fantastic."

Milan, whose own first baby is due in four weeks time, said: "It'll be no trouble to me now I've done it once. It's like riding a bike."

And the two medics were so happy with the birth they called in to see how their first child was progressing on Monday.

Now the only problem is a name.

Robert, who is now taking two weeks holiday, said the family went to the library for a book but there was none in.

Jake, Jordan and Ross have been considered, but as yet no-one can agree.

Now they're considering Milan. "It's unusual enough," said Robert.