A CAR was spotted driving on the M6 hardshoulder yesterday - because one of the passengers had gone into labour.

Two traffic officers were on a routine patrol at 7.45am in Warrington when they noticed the car using the hardshoulder to dodge heavy traffic.

Traffic officer Trevor Long and team manager Jane Howard then discovered the reason for the driver's behaviour - her sister in the passenger seat had gone into labour.

The two officers escorted the women's car southwards down the hard shoulder and off at junction 22.

Jamie Carr, network operations manager in charge of the North West Traffic Officer Service, said, "We are very proud of the quick way these two officers reacted.

"They were very calm with the driver and the pregnant lady and once they established there was genuine urgency with the situation were keen to do all they could to help the woman get to hospital.

"We only ever go off the motorway network in exceptional circumstances and of course this was one of those."

And Mr Long, from Warrington said: "Our job is to keep drivers on the move and it was a particular pleasure in this case as otherwise we might have been helping to deliver a baby!"