A two-year-old girl is lucky to be alive after her mother accidently reversed her car over her.

A witness to the accident, which happened on Saturday, said the girl was saved from serious injury by her thick winter clothing and snow which helped her slide along instead of being crushed.

The mother had dropped her four children off at their grandmother's home in Dornoch Crescent, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, when the accident happened.

It is thought the child, who has not been named, walked behind the vehicle and was dragged for about 12ft.

She was shaking from the fear and the cold, her poor little hands were red raw Brian Rogerson, neighbour

Neighbour Brian Rogerson, 34, who tried to help in the rescue said the mother had told the children to go into the house before she began reversing her Chrysler Voyager.

It is unclear if the youngster slipped or if she was knocked by the reversing vehicle.

The woman's son alerted his mother and she stopped immediately, Mr Rogerson added.

He said: "Luckily all her padding protected her and if the snow had not been there it could have been a lot worse because I think it helped her to slide along."

"I didn't know what to expect, all I saw were her two little legs hanging out.

"I dived to get under the car, she was trapped and there was no way of getting her out unless the car was lifted.

"All I could do was give her my coat, hat and a blanket to keep her warm until the fire engine came.

"She was in shock. She was shaking from the fear and the cold, her poor little hands were red raw."

Hospital treatment

Paramedics arrived to find the child's left arm trapped over her chest by a plate underneath the car's engine.

Fire officers used lifting equipment to jack up the car and the girl was pulled out and taken to hospital.

Station Officer Grahame Dodd of Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade said: "We had to use a jack to lift up the vehicle and pull her free.

"She has been very fortunate that there were no serious injuries."