PASSERS-BY rushed to help a woman as she gave birth to “a little miracle” on Lombard Street in Barry this week.

Hannah Hyde, 26, gave birth to a baby boy weighing 6lb 6oz on the pavement of Lombard Street at 3pm on Tuesday.

She had been on her way to the job centre in Holton Road when her waters broke and she suddenly went into labour.

Passers-by attempted to help the pregnant mother by supporting her and giving her towels in the freezing conditions.

Employees from Catwalk Hair Design, Benny’s Café and George Thomas Hospice Care, as well as others who were just walking past, all rushed out to help the woman in any way they could.

A paramedic arrived within three minutes of being called, but by then the baby had already been born.

After an ambulance arrived mother and baby were taken to the University Hospital of Wales (UHW), where they are still recovering Alison Bennett, of Benny’s Café, offered support to Hannah throughout and described the birth as “a little miracle on Lombard Street”.

Gareth Romans was with Hannah when she gave birth, and with the assistance of advice from a paramedic on the phone, helped with the labour.

“It took me by shock,” he said.

“It was an amazing feeling but I think instinct took over and I just carried on with it.

“It’s not every day that something like that happens!”

Gareth, a qualified firstaider, added: “I missed my three children being born, but even though this wasn’t in the best of conditions, it was one of the best experiences of my life and just tops it all.

“I never thought I’d see a baby delivered in the middle of the street in all my living days!”

Sian Pimm, of Catwalk Hair Design, also helped out with the birth.

“We wanted to get her into the shop, but once they had got the boy out they didn’t want to move her.”

Sally Davies, who was walking past when Hannah started giving birth, stayed with her until the ambulance arrived to take mother and child to hospital.

“I still can’t get over it now. She was absolutely amazing and I can’t fault her at all,” she said.

“I was walking through town when her friend said she was in labour. She was just lying on the floor.

“After the next contraction the baby was out. She wasn’t crying or screaming at all.”

She added that everyone was concerned about the freezing temperatures.

“I was trying to cover her and the baby to keep them warm.”

She also praised Hannah: “I would have thought she would be in shock but she coped extremely well..”

A South Wales Ambulance spokesman said the service was called to Lombard Street at 3pm on Tuesday, a paramedic was on the scene in three minutes and the woman was taken to UHW.