AN Exeter grandmother saved the life of her neighbour's newborn baby after helping to deliver it.

Lynn Bennett used skills she learned at childhood Red Cross classes to save the life of baby Bella.

She managed to unravel the umbilical cord which had become wrapped around the baby's neck.

And she kept mother and baby calm until medical help arrived.

Lynn was at her home in John Lever's Way, St Thomas, when little Charlie, the daughter of neighbour Kirsty Raddon, knocked on her door and said her mother needed help.

Lynn discovered Kirsty was just about to give birth to her fifth baby, three days early.

Kirsty, 31, whose children Charlie, 11, Robbie, nine, Georgie, seven and Mia, four, were sent upstairs to play as she gave birth, said: "I got up that morning and was feeling fine. Then a few minutes later without warning my waters broke. It all started to happen."

With her husband, carpenter Matthew, away on a job Kirsty was on her own.

"I called Matthew and the midwife and she was on the way and that's when I sent Charlie round to get Lynn," she said.

"She came round straightaway and I told her the baby was on the way and I felt like pushing. She had a look and said I better had because she could see the baby's head.

"We were on the sofa and it all happened very quickly, I suppose 20 minutes in all.

"The baby came out with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck and a bit blue.

"But Lynn, who has trained in first aid, unwound the cord and then rubbed the baby until she was a normal colour and crying well.

"Matthew arrived and said, 'Hang on I'll just change,' but of course it was too late and the baby, who we have called Bella, was there and wonderful.

"The midwife arrived minutes later and everything was fine, with Bella weighing 6lbs 1oz."

Lynn said: "I just did what was needed. I started Red Cross first aid classes when I was just 10, a year before I should have, and kept them up.

"I think it is really important that people know what to do in this sort of emergency.

"I just unwound the cord and gave the baby a good rub and she was soon doing well.

"I am so pleased for Kirsty and Matthew. Bella is an absolutely perfect baby.

Lynn's husband Melvyn said: "I am a very lucky man to have such a wonderful wife."

Kirsty said she could never be able to repay Lynn for what she did last Thursday morning.

"Lynn was absolutely wonderful," she said. "She is a life saver. She was so calm and helpful and knew just what to do.

"It made all the difference. I think some people might have panicked in that situation but she was marvellous.

"We have lived next door to each other for nine years and she really is a super neighbour."