A Shadwell mum has hailed paramedics who saved her and her baby during an emergency home birth.

Abie Hepworth, a trainee priest, had a difficult birth at home last year, which put both her and her baby Lydia's lives at risk.

She said: "An incredible team of paramedics saved our lives and I will be forever grateful for the work of paramedics and the work they do."

Abie and Lydia were reunited with the paramedics in the summer and added: "On TV and in the movies you always hear the baby cry and I waited but there was no cry.

"And yet all I remember is how safe I felt with the crews.

"I trusted each and every one of them from the minute they arrived and I never once felt scared."

To say thank you, Abie is one of ten runners who will be representing the London Ambulance Service at the TCS London Marathon in April.

The money raised by the runners will support the London Ambulance Charity, which is working to fund additional defibrillators across the capital with the London Heart Starters campaign.

The charity also supports wellbeing initiatives for frontline crews, including support vehicles to help crews cope with the challenges of a 12-hour shift.

The London Marathon route goes past Abie's local church, so she will see some familiar faces cheering her on during the race.

She said: "We make a huge day of it with a barbecue and drinks where hundreds of people come to watch each year and support the runners.

"I hope I can use this excitement to help galvanise support for LAS from my friends, family and my local community.

"It will be great to be one of the runners they are cheering on this year."

The London Marathon, which is the largest fundraising event in the world, passes Buckingham Palace, the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament with 40,000 fellow runners taking part.

Jess Burgess, head of charity at London Ambulance Service, said: "I would like to thank all of our incredible marathon runners for taking on this challenge.

"I hope that Londoners will support their efforts to raise funds for our ambulance crews and call handlers, who dedicate their lives to caring for the people of our capital city during the time of their greatest need.

"Money raised will improve staff welfare and help our teams provide exceptional care for our patients and local communities across the capital."

For more information about supporting London Ambulance Charity, or to register for your fundraising challenge, head to www.londonambulancecharity.org.uk.