A Russian woman gave birth by the light of dozens of mobile phones after a power cut plunged a town including the local maternity ward into darkness.

Emergency generators kicked in at the ward for infants at Shelehov in northern Russia to keep the incubators cradling tiny babies alive – but the room where Rima Pivovarova, 22, was giving birth was plunged into darkness just as doctors started to try and sort out complications with the delivery.

Instead quick-thinking nurses borrowed mobile phones from colleagues and other patients and used their light as they delivered the baby.

Nurse Nadezhda Stempkovskaya, who helped deliver the baby said both mother and son are doing well.