A BABY was left fighting for its life after suddenly becoming ill.

Two police officers were first on the scene after) a 999 call from a Chelmsford home at about 8.15pm on Monday.

One officer gave first aid to the baby, who had stopped breathing, before taking the decision to drive the child to Broomfield Hospital.

An ambulance arrived 13 minutes after the initial emergency call – the service’s target time is eight minutes.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “Our officer, who had formerly worked with the ambulance service, gave first aid to the child who had stopped breathing.

“Officers had decided to take the child in a police car to hospital prior to the arrival of the ambulance service. This was because of the seriousness of the child’s condition.”

The child was later transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and remains there in a life-threatening condition.

The baby’s father is still not aware of the incident, so the authorities would not say where in Chelmsford the incident happened or if the poorly youngster was a boy or girl.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: “An ambulance was immediately dispatched, but the police officers who were first on scene and took the decision to take the baby straight to hospital.

“An ambulance arrived at the address 13 minutes after the 999 call was made.

“An investigation has been launched into the whole process around the incident itself.”