A mother and baby who went through a traumatic birth have been reunited with the London Ambulance Service (LAS) crews in east London who helped save their lives.

Abie Everett and Michael Everett were sent home from hospital last December while in the early stages of labour, but when Abie felt the baby was starting to come they called 999.

A team of LAS responders helped deliver baby Lydia, who was born with the umbilical cord around her neck and was not breathing.

They also helped save Mrs Everett who had lost a large amount of blood during the birth.

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) Courtney Mulligan and Corey Graham were the first to arrive alongside paramedic Oliver Sage and the crews quickly removed the umbilical cord.

When another EMT Alex Welch and advanced paramedic Mark Faulkner arrived, the team worked together to care for baby Lydia and Mrs Everett, who was still bleeding heavily.

Mrs Everett said: "On TV and in the movies you always hear the baby cry and I waited but there was no cry.

"And yet all I remember is how safe I felt with the crews. I trusted each and every one of them from the minute they arrived and I never once felt scared."

She was given drugs to help stop the bleeding, and oxygen and intravenous fluids to help stabilise her.

Meanwhile Mr Graham tended to Lydia until she gave her first cry.

He added: "It was a very long 30 seconds - but we could see that Lydia was trying to breathe.

"The more time that went on, the better her colour looked and as she took her first breath it was a breath of relief for us as well."

Both mother and baby were rushed to hospital and Ms Mulligan and Mr Graham were later reunited with the family at Homerton Ambulance Station in east London, where they are based.

Ms Mulligan said: "It was really heartwarming to meet the family and get a cuddle with Lydia.

"She's growing fast and such a beautiful baby - this is exactly why we do this job."

Mrs Everett, a trainee vicar, added: "I wouldn't be a mum today if it wasn't for them.

"They saved not one, but two lives that day.

"When she is older I will tell her all about the people who saved her life and I will spend the rest of my life thanking God for each of them."