A BABY girl was recovering in hospital today after she was run over by a taxi in an Ipswich driveway.Police and paramedics were called to Rydal Walk after the one-year-old tot was involved in a collision with the green Volkswagen Passat, which was reversing into the driveway of the girl's home.

A BABY girl was recovering in hospital today after she was run over by a taxi in an Ipswich driveway.

Police and paramedics were called to Rydal Walk after the one-year-old tot was involved in a collision with the green Volkswagen Passat, which was reversing into the driveway of the girl's home.

The youngster was left screaming in agony and an eyewitness said he feared the accident, during which the girl was dragged underneath the car, could have claimed her life.

Michael Button, 58, of Rydal Walk, rushed to the aid of the girl in the moments following the accident, which happened just before 3.30pm yesterday, and comforted her while ambulance crews made their way to the scene.

He said: “The first thing I thought after seeing what happened was that this girl has got to have internal injuries.

“I grabbed hold of her.

“Her mother was hysterical.

“I kept talking to the girl to try and comfort her and she seemed to calm down a bit.

“When I got in the ambulance with her the ambulance man thought she had broken her leg.

“She is very lucky - we could have been talking about a death here.”

Suffolk police today said the driver of the Passat had been unaware the girl had been hit but returned to Rydal Walk when he was called by police investigating the accident.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said: “A green VW Passat was reversing on to the drive and knocked the girl over.

“He was reversing on to a drive so he wasn't aware (of what happened). The officer contacted him and he made his way back to the scene voluntarily.”

She said the girl suffered cuts and bruises but no serious injuries.

The road was closed after the accident while specially trained accident investigation officers surveyed the scene.

Any witnesses to the accident are asked to contact Pc Christopher Chaplin on 01473 613500.