A MUM gave birth in the back of a taxi after being refused an ambulance and being told to call a cab instead.

Frantic dad Yafin Adam called the maternity unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital to ask for an ambulance, believing his 22-year-old wife Ruzbina was about to give birth.

But he claims he was told to call a mini-cab instead as nurses said they could not send an ambulance as it might be a false alarm.

The couple got into a taxi to travel the three miles from their home in St Ann's Road, Halliwell, to the hospital but the baby would not wait.

The private hire car was just a few hundred yards from the hospital entrance when Mrs Adam gave birth to a 7lb 1oz baby daughter, Nazneen.

Mr Adam called the hospital again on his mobile phone to ask for medical help. Nurses came rushing out with towels and his wife and new-born daughter were taken into the hospital.

The 24-year-old claims clerk said: "I couldn't believe it. We were so frightened and we rang the hospital for help.

"Neither of us had experienced anything like this before. My wife was terrified and I just didn't know what to do. I rang the hospital in a panic and because I needed their help."

Mrs Adam's labour pains had begun in the early hours of January 16. At 7am, Mr Adam made the call to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

She was not due to give birth until four days later.

To add to the family's trauma, Mr Adam claims the cab driver, working for Bolton firm Express Taxis, charged him an extra £20 to clean up the car after the baby's birth.

Mr Adam said: "My daughter is absolutely fine and for that I'm so thankful, but it might not have ended this way. This was the last thing we needed."

The family already have an 18-month-old daughter Nasreen, who was born without any incident at the hospital in May 2004.

Heather Edwards, head of communications at the hospital, said: "If we are given any indication that a lady who had no private transport was very close to delivery, we would either arrange for an ambulance or suggest the lady stayed where she was and send someone out to her.

"Otherwise, we would suggest that women come to the unit by taxi or their family car, but we don't have a fund to pay for this.

"Sometimes though, babies arrive more quickly than anticipated and occasionally in unorthodox places. Although this is not ideal, it is rare that any harm comes from this."

Express Taxis declined to comment.