A MOTHER who gave birth prematurely in the pub where she works had to 'run the gauntlet' of spectators and parked cars gathered for Saturday's Three Peaks marathon race with her new-born baby.

Two ambulance crews had raced to Ribblehead's Station Inn, where Michelle Clamp gave birth to daughter Jemma Jane less than an hour before the leading runners were scheduled to pass the pub.

Michelle, 26, and Jemma Jane, who was delivered by her grandmother and Station Inn licensee Jo Shutt along with paramedics, were taken to hospital in Lancaster by ambulance. The two vehicles struggled to get past race fans and parked cars on the road down towards Ingleton.

After almost 90 minutes, mum Michelle and her baby arrived at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, where Jemma Jane weighed in at 5lbs 11oz.

Proud father Tom Burns is a chef at the Station Inn, and the son of licensee Jo. He shares a home with Michelle, who is one of the bar staff, in the cottage next to the pub.

Tom said: "Michelle woke me with labour pains just before 7am. The baby was not due for another three weeks, but we both knew immediately she was on the way.

"It was a shock, and with the Three Peaks just about to take place we knew the timing could have been better.

"I woke my mum straight away and Michelle moved to an upstairs room in the pub. We called the midwife but she could not get to us so we called an ambulance. Two ambulances arrived after about an hour, one each for Michelle and the baby.

"Jemma Jane was born at just before quarter past 10 and the paramedics let my mum deliver the baby, and she cut the umbilical cord. We were all obviously very emotional!

"I was following the ambulances in the car and it was very slow going - it took about 20 minutes for us just to get to the Old Hill Inn less than a couple of miles away.

"After Ingleton they put the blue lights on, but it took well over an hour to get to Lancaster. Luckily everything was fine and mum and baby are doing well. The paramedics were fantastic."

Michelle and Jemma Jane returned home from hospital on Tuesday.