POLICE had to help out when a woman whose baby was stillborn had to wait four hours for an ambulance, according to a chief constable.

North Wales police chief Mark Polin was relating to a police and crime panel the pressures his officers faced when dealing with calls that were not really policing matters.

He also recounted how officers had helped a motorcyclist in pain with two broken legs while they waited two hours for an ambulance.

"As recently as this weekend we have been transporting patients with ambulances not available," he told the meeting held at Conwy.

Referring to the stillborn baby, Mr Polin said officers had been flagged down in April by the family of the mother.

The family had been advised by the ambulance service not to cut the cord.

"She was suffering from pain and bleeding. Officers dealt with first aid until the ambulance attended at five past one in their morning - four hours later."

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said they would seek further information about details and locations. "We will be contacting Chief Constable Polin's office," he added.

Mr Polin is retiring shortly.

He will be taking up a position as chairman of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board which covers all of North Wales.