A new mum can include a baby among her Tesco deliveries after staff at the Rainham Extra shop helped her give birth to her daughter when she went into labour in the store.

Every little helped for mum-of-three Chanelle Mackay, from Rainham, when workers at the Bridge Road supermarket delivered her baby before an ambulance arrived.

The 25-year-old had just finished shopping with her family at about 8.30pm when her contractions began.

Chanelle, who was not due to give birth for two more weeks, was helped into a wheelchair by produce manager Natasha Hunt.

Natasha took her to wait for a first-aider, but when the contractions grew stronger, the emergency services were called.

Chanelle was taken into an office, while paramedics on the phone talked Natasha through what to do as the labour progressed rapidly. It soon became clear the ambulance was unlikely to arrive in time, and there was about to be a rather unexpected item in the bagging area.

Counters team leader Rachel Wright stepped in to deliver the baby, while Natasha gave instructions. Demi Mackay was born at 9.20pm, weighing a healthy 6lbs 6oz.

Full-time mum Chanelle said: “Popping into my local Tesco, I never dreamed I’d be leaving holding my new-born baby girl in my arms.

“Out of nowhere I [started] having full-on contractions and needed to push. Without the Tesco staff who were with us that night, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

When at first Demi didn’t cry, Rachel cleared the infant’s mouth and she let out her first wail.

Mother and baby were both kitted out in Tesco’s finest attire and given nappies and bottles, along with a bunch of flowers.

Rachel said: “It was the most wonderful experience ever and I’m so glad I was a part of it.”

Chanelle later returned to the store with Demi to update the impromptu midwives on her progress.

She said: “I want to thank Natasha for getting me into a wheelchair, calling an ambulance and getting somebody to watch my four-year-old son Alfie and 15-month-old daughter Frankie.

“Above all, we will be forever grateful to Rachel, who was my guardian angel that night and delivered my beautiful daughter.

“Rachel wrapped her up and held her close to me so the cord was kept warm and safe until the ambulance arrived about five minutes later.

“She will always be a part of my daughter’s life and deserves a very big reward for being an amazing member of Tesco staff! A big thank you to all who helped that night.”