Two midwives who battled through snow and black ice to deliver a baby safely at home were praised by the family they helped.

Vicky and Andy Hagyard say they are grateful to Lorraine Towler and Janet Durkin for making the journey to their Denholme farmhouse to deliver their first child on Tuesday.

“We can’t thank the midwives enough for their help in delivering our daughter, Amy Louise,” said Mrs Hagyard, 27, an accounts assistant.

“The lane was treacherous on Tuesday, you couldn’t even see it from our house despite it only being 150 yards away, and I don’t think we realised how bad it was for the midwives.”

The midwives, from Bradford Royal Infirmary, got a call at 2pm to say Mrs Hagyard was in labour and it took them an hour to travel the five miles to the couple’s home. “It was the scariest drive of my life down that farm lane,” said Janet Durkin.

“There were many times when Lorraine and I thought we were going to have to turn back.

“The car was bottoming on the snow and sliding everywhere.”

Eventually, Andy managed to help them on the last leg in his 4x4.

The midwives – who were supposed to finish their shift at 5pm – stayed with the couple until little Amy was born at 9.38pm as it was considered that an ambulance would never make it down the couple’s remote lane.

A third midwife, Alison Brown, who lives near the couple, delivered a new supply of much-needed gas and air.

Mrs Hagyard said Amy was gorgeous and the image of her dad Andy, a 41-year-old tax consultant.

“Andy and I are looking forward to telling her all about her dramatic arrival when she is a bit older,” she added. Last year, 50 babies were born at home in the Bradford area but Amy, who weighed in at 8lb 3oz, is the fifth in the district to this year.