A Shropshire mother thought she was going to “lose her babies” as her car flipped in the air with her two young sons in the back seat after being hit by a speeding motorist who then fled the scene.

Kate Westley said it was only when she heard five-year-old son Joel cry and 11-year-old Sam call out to her that she realised their seatbelts had saved their lives.

The incident happened on Tuesday shortly before 8pm.

The car being driven by Mrs Westley, of Sundorne Crescent, Shrewsbury, was hit from behind on the A5 between Telford and Shrewsbury.

As her Suzuki Wagon was thrown into the air and flipped over, the other car drove on without stopping.

Mrs Westley said she believes that if her children, who escaped with only bruising and shock, had not been safely strapped into their child booster seats and wearing seatbelts, they would not be here today.

She said: “Somebody came out of nowhere from behind me, I saw headlights approaching in the rear view mirror and thought ‘that is going to hit us’.

“It tried to swerve but I felt it hit our car and the car turned right over onto its roof and then back onto its wheels on the verge.

“When it was rolling I was thinking: ‘I am going to lose my babies’.”

The family was trapped in the car and Sam had to climb to the front of the vehicle and out the side before helping his mum and little brother out.

Mrs Westley urged other parents to make sure their children were strapped in.

Police are anxious for any information which may help trace the driver of the vehicle which failed to stop. Call 0300 3333000.

West Mercia chief inspector Martin Whitelegg added: “Fortunately Mrs Westley and her two children escaped virtually unscathed but if they had not been wearing their seatbelts it could have ended in tragedy.”

By Rhea Parsons