Former midwife Jane Brooks has gone from delivering babies to fancy biscuits and speciality breads after a career switch from maternity wards to Malmesbury’s newest bakery at Waitrose.

She also works in the new edge-of-town store, probably alongside some of the people she helped deliver.

And every now and then, while tempting shoppers with cakes, she will spot a customer who she helped bring into to the world.

Mother-of-four Mrs Brooks, who worked in midwifery for 33 years, said: “I suppose you could say that I have gone from pulling buns out of the oven to putting them in.”

“I can’t put a number on it but I’ve helped deliver hundreds of babies over the years.

“After talking to some of the other partners (staff) at Waitrose, I was delighted to find out that I had delivered some of their children.

“There’s a strong chance that I might even have delivered some of my younger Waitrose colleagues.”

Mrs Brooks works closely with one woman whose teen-age son she helped deliver.

“Malmesbury is a relatively small place so I am bound to see children I helped bring into the world and mothers whose children I delivered,” she said.

Mrs Brooks worked at the now closed Malmesbury Community Hospital from 1986 until 2003 before spending eight years at the Great Western Hospital, Swindon.

Of her career-change, she said: “I decided that it was time for a new challenge. It’s been wonderful to start a new chapter of my working life in such a lovely environment.”

Meanwhile, three members of the same family – Tim and Marina Cowan and their 22-year-old daughter Georgie – all work together at the Waitrose store.

Miss Cowan, a Royal Agricultural University graduate, is furthering her career and knowledge of the food industry with a stint at the meat and fish counter.

Semi-retired company director Mr Cowan, 51, helps run the check-outs and is involved in deliveries while Mrs Cowan, also 51, mans the welcome desk and helps in the office.

“Tim and I work very well together,” said former City of London trading floor worker Mrs Cowan, who also chairs Stanton St Quintin Parish Council.