LITTLE Abby Mills has become the first baby to be delivered at one of Europe's leading transplant hospitals - by a junior urologist.

Her parents, Lindsey Mills and David Padgett, were on their way to their local hospital's maternity unit when they got stuck in rush-hour traffic.

Realising there was no way they would get there in time, they changed their plans and headed for Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.

The hospital, responsible for saving the life of heart transplant girl Sally Slater, has no maternity unit. Junior doctor Rob Casserley, 25, who works in the hospital's urology department, said he was still in shock after successfully delivering his first baby.

He said: "It was absolutely amazing.

"I've only ever been involved with one other birth and that was with a midwife on hand at all times. I was terrified - I'm still trembling now - but I'm so glad that mum and daughter are doing well,"

Ms Mills's contractions started at 4am but the 25-year-old, who already has a three-year-old daughter, Amy, wanted to wait as long as possible before going to hospital.

Within ten minutes of arriving at the hospital, Ms Mills was holding a healthy baby girl.

She said: "I could tell the doctor was nervous, he seemed to be panicking a bit at first but then he was fine and did really well.

When midwife Alexandra Gilchrist arrived, little Abby, weighing 6lb 15oz, was checked over before being transferred to the delivery suite at the Royal Victoria Infirmary