A BABY was rescued from a stranded car after her mother suffered a moment of motoring madness.

Jayne Tingay was celebrating having a car clamp removed for free when she attempted to beat the high tide at The Strood but was caught out while travelling with baby Mollie.

Fortunately kindhearted Martin Crossman, from Mersea Island, was on hand to help out.

The day of highs and lows began when Essex County Council wrote off a parking fine for several hundred pounds for Ms Tingay. She had got it when she went into labour with five-month-old Mollie and had to abandon her car off Turner Road to give birth at Colchester General Hospital.

Parking tickets followed before a note from a company which had clamped the vehicle.

An officer at County Hall rescinded the fines after finding out the circumstances and the clamp was removed.

Just a couple of hours later, during the late afternoon on Wednesday, the owner of Mrs Busy Bees cleaning company was rushing to pick up two of her staff when she got stuck.

Her partner Dale Benjamin said: “She said it wasn’t deep and she saw a car going through but then it got deeper.

“She said a wave hit her and the car stopped. She called me and said she was stuck.

“A man helped her out and we want to thank that man.”

The couple have offered a free house clean to Mr Crossman who stopped to help.

Ms Tingay was one of a number of drivers to try to get through but the tide was reaching almost six metres and almost covered The Causeway.

Mr Benjamin said: “Essex County Council were really good about the tickets.

“We had to leave the car because she was in pain and we had only just got the clamp off when she drove to Mersea. She won’t go through the water again.”

Cars trying to beat the tide and getting caught out are a common problem with extra measures added to help drivers.

Daisey Crossman, rescuer Martin’s wife, said: “I am proud of him, he was very understanding.

“Other people were being abusive over someone who had got in that situation whether by mistake or by fault.

“If somebody needs help or you can rescue a baby, you just do it.

“People were worried about delays and saying the vehicle was not moved but she did try.”

Mrs Crossman said she can understand the frustration when people are delayed but said some people were being abusive to a man who was holding a baby and trying to help a stranded mother.

Mr Benjamin added: “It cost £120 to recover the car and I haven’t tried to turn it on yet.

“I am going to give it a couple of days and hope, or it means a new car.”