An ordinary day on the beat took an unexpected turn for three police officers this morning, when they were asked to help deliver a baby girl at the side of the road.

Linda Akinyemi, 28, was on her way to Homerton Hospital in a taxi with her husband and aunt after going into labour with her second child last Thursday – but her new daughter decided she wasn’t going to wait until then before she made an appearance.

The taxi was forced to pull over at the side of the road in Rick Roberts Way, Stratford, and after calling an ambulance, husband Christopher spotted three police officers who had pulled over a car nearby and went running over to ask them for help.

Mr Akinyemi, 31, who is a Nigerian Afro-beats singer, said: “When I saw the police officers, they were apprehending three suspects. When I approached them, they thought I was a suspect too. I gave the phone to a female police officer so I could help my aunt lay my wife down on the pavement.”

Mrs Akinyemi was then taken to Homerton Hospital in Homerton Row with her newborn. Speaking from there this morning she said: “It’s like a miracle. I wasn’t nervous. I just wanted the baby out. I felt like pushing.

“It was only when my aunt was helping deliver the baby that I became nervous. You don’t know what can happen. Everyone around me, including the police, looked nervous.”

Despite initial misgivings, the couple have decided to call the baby Mercedes after the garage she was born next to.

Mr Akinyemi, 31, said: “They are a great company. They have been in business for a long time. That’s a sign my daughter is going to be something special when she grows up.”

Pc Robert Morgan, was one of two officers from Tower Hamlets Safer Transport Team, who helped the Akinyemi family. He said: “We deal with all sorts of incidents, however I wasn’t expecting this!”

Mercedes Akinyemi was born at 1.18pm yesterday and weighed 6lb 4oz. Her parents said she is “doing well”.