The last baby born at a hospital where a maternity ward is closing was only delivered there because of a lack of room at the hospital which is supposed to take on the extra demand.

Daunys Donatas and Leva Zemaityte, from Romford, arrived at Queen's Hospital on Sunday, three days after their baby's due date, only be told there were no beds available and to wait.

But 40 minutes later Mr Donatas had lost patience and decided to take his partner to King George Hospital in Goodmayes, where he works as a porter.

Maternity services at King George closed on Tuesday as part of a shake-up of services in north east London, despite campaigners warning health bosses have under-estimated future population growth.

Under the plans mothers in Redbridge will be sent to Queen's in Romford instead, while services at Whipps Cross in Leytonstone and Homerton in Hackney will eventually be expanded.

Mr Donatas said he felt he had to leave Queen's to protect his partner's welfare.

He added: "They kept saying to us at Queen’s ‘It won’t be long, it won’t be long’

"I said ‘What will happen? Should she give birth in the corridor?’ They said ‘no, of course not.’

"But after 40 minutes I decided to drive us to King George because the contractions were getting worse.

"I’m very proud to have my son born at the hospital where I work and I will tell him how special it is when he grows up."

Baby Dovydas's eventual arrival at 2.19am was an emotional moment for maternity staff at King George.

Amy Lester, a midwife with 34 years experience, also retired on Tuesday.

She has worked at King George throughout its 20 years of operation, seeing both the first babies born (a set of triplets) as well as the last.

She said: "There have been lots of laughs and tears over the years; it has felt like a big family. I’ve loved coming to work every day and have been so proud to serve the local women and their babies."

One hundred babies have already been born in the Queen’s Birth Centre, which is attracting positive feedback from new mums.

The unit is equipped with large birthing pools for pain relief and is designed to promote natural birth.

Queen's has previously faced fierce criticism for its quality of maternity care.

A spokeswoman for BHRUT said: "We are sorry to hear that Mr Donatas felt there were delays in his care, and we will look into this.

"There were at least four delivery rooms free on the Queen’s Birth Centre on Sunday, and the  baby was not born until the early hours of Monday, so it is inaccurate to suggest in the article that there was a lack of room at the hospital, or on the basis of this information, that there was a risk to his partner’s welfare."