Two supermarket workers made it a special delivery when a customer gave birth in the store.

Asda first aiders Kerri Smith and Karen McCoy came to the aid of Vicky O'Keefe when she began having contractions as she was doing her weekly shopping at the Asda store in Crawley.

Vicky's mother-in-law Dawn King and the two Asda first aiders guided her into the medical room to wait for paramedics to take her to hospital.

But the contractions became so frequent it was clear she would not be able to make it to East Surrey and Dorking Hospital in time.

Paramedic Duncan Jones called Vicky's midwife to help with the delivery at the supermarket.

And her partner Billy King arrived in time to support her and witness the birth of their baby son, who they have named Freddie, at 1.40pm on Sunday.

Freddie - weighing in at 9lb 8oz - and Vicky were taken to hospital afterwards and were due to return to their home in Linnell Close, Broadfield, Crawley, last night.

From her hospital bed Vicky said: "It all happened so quickly.

"I was fine when I left the house with Dawn but almost as soon as I got into Asda my waters broke and the contractions started.

"Within two hours of arriving at the store I had given birth to Freddie.

"I still can't believe it. I never thought it would happen that quickly."

Vicky was a week overdue and was to be induced tomorrow in the comparative luxury of the hospital but instead had to rely on nature taking its course.

Billy said: "Mum phoned me and said to go to the hospital so I rushed around getting everything Vicky would need.

"Then I got another call saying to go to Asda because she was giving birth there.

"I was shocked that it was all happening so quickly and rushed to the store.

"Vicky was incredible and so were the staff at Asda."

The two supermarket staff were praised by the couple who also have two daughters, Courtney, four, and Chelsea, two.

Kerri said: "I just made sure Vicky and the baby were all right and tried to keep the situation calm all the way through.

"She knew what pain was going to come but she dealt with it so well.

"I joked at least she had her own private room and just tried to reassure her, mopping her brow and holding her hand.

"As soon as I saw the head that was me gone - I bawled my eyes out. It was a really emotional time.

"She was so relieved it was all over because obviously she didn't want him in Asda but it was too late.

"I've seen a lot of pregnant women in here but I've never seen one give birth."

The birth is the second one to happen in an Asda store in recent weeks.

The store presented the couple with a bottle of celebratory champagne and will be providing them with a year's supply of nappies.