An author from Coulsdon may not have got any money when he appeared on Dragons' Den, but he received something much more precious instead - a baby.

While Darren Spence was failing to persuade the panel to back his children's books, Nobby Travels, wife Julia was going into labour at home, giving birth to their first child Thomas two hours later.

Darren, who lives in Broadwood Road, said: "We may not have convinced the panel to part with their kids' inheritance but Thomas is beautiful and more amazing than we could have imagined."

The show, which was aired on Monday night but filmed on August 2, saw Darren asking the panel to back his books, which tell the tale of a chocolate Labrador puppy who travels to different countries through a magical dog flap.

However, the panel, which includes business entrepreneurs Duncan Bannatyne and Peter Jones, were unanimous in not backing him because he had no publisher or distributor.

Darren added: "Nobby was inspired by our own puppy and the prospect of being parents for the first time, so it was pretty ironic that whilst I was filming Dragons' Den, Julia went into labour."