A cross-Channel ferry gained an extra passenger after setting off from Calais for Dover - a new-born baby.

It happened just after the P&O Ferries’ ship Pride of Canterbury had left Calais for the 5.45am sailing on Friday.

Among the passengers were Tiemoko and Aissada Coulibaly, with their two-year-old daughter Karidja-Lilly, who live in Peckham.

And they thought their new baby wasn’t due for another three weeks. But as the ferry left the berth, another birth suddenly appeared imminent.

The ferry was heading out of the pier heads when Captain Martin Odell received a message on the bridge that a passenger was about to give birth, so Capt Odell decided to return to the port.

Aissada Coulibaly and Tiemoko had been taken to the first aid room where Aissada almost immediately started giving birth.

Staff who assisted were first-aiders Andy McAllister and Shirley Fulton, who were visiting the ship from the Pride of Burgundy.

Also helping was former midwife Dee Leir and Kerenza Read who looked after Karidja-Lilly, who needed consoling.

Once the baby was born she was wrapped in blankets and placed next to mother who continued to be assessed by the first aiders.

The French medics arrived at 6.26am and took over.

The family - complete with new baby Mariam-Calais - were taken to hospital in Calais where mother and baby were said to be doing fine.

Full story in this week's Dover Mercury