A MOTHER today issued a heartfelt thank you to two women who came to her aid after she and her daughter had a near miss with a car in Ipswich.

Naomi Cassidy

A MOTHER today issued a heartfelt thank you to two women who came to her aid after she and her daughter had a near miss with a car in Ipswich.

Lisa Mercer has told of her relief that her three-year-old daughter Caitlin was not more seriously injured when she came close to being in collision with the car in Hawes Street at 9am on Saturday.

Caitlin, who was in a pushchair at the time, suffered a cut lip and grazed chin and had to be kept in hospital overnight.

Miss Mercer, of Virginia Street, near Hawes Street, today expressed her gratitude to the women who helped at the scene.

The 31-year-old said: “It could have been so much worse. I am extremely grateful she is all right. I try not to think about what could have happened.

“Caitlin was really good when it happened. She didn't cry but I was in a panic and my son Jack, who is eight, was crying his eyes out.

“I went into auto-pilot. These two women came over and one was looking after Caitlin and the other one was cuddling Jack while I was phoning the ambulance.”

The family were on their way to the cinema when the incident happened.

Although at first it appeared Caitlin just had a cut lip, she complained of neck pain later that day and her face became more swollen as the hours went on. Miss Mercer took her to Ipswich Hospital where she was kept in overnight as she could not swallow properly and had an X-ray taken for a possible hairline jaw fracture.

Miss Mercer added: “I would like too thank the two ladies who came to my help and to the police and ambulance who attended the scene so quickly.

“We are still a little bit unsettled about what has happened and are trying to get back to normal.

“Caitlin is a bit up and down at the moment because she is in pain but she is a very lucky girl. We all are.”

Suffolk police are appealing for witnesses to the near miss. Anyone with information is asked to call Pc Dan Ormes at the road policing unit on 01473 613500.

A 25-year-old man from Ipswich was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop at the scene of an accident and has been bailed to return to Ipswich police station on August 15 pending further enquiries.

Do you want to thank someone for helping you in a difficult situation? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk