The mother of a toddler who died after a car crushed her pushchair today paid tribute to her "angel".

The 22-month-old girl was killed after the vehicle mounted the pavement in Eastcote Road, Ruislip, west London, at 4.15pm on Sunday.

Paying tribute today, her mother said the little girl had "the most beautiful smile".

She said: "She had the most beautiful smile, and her eyes were always full of love and laughter. She was our angel, our everything and there isn’t a moment that we could stop thinking about her.”

Witnesses told how the woman screamed “my baby, my baby” after the crash took place.

The vehicle also ploughed into the woman and her husband as they walked home from the park pushing the buggy. The impact threw the toddler’s father into a hedge.

Police said a man in his forties was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury while driving and driving whilst unfit through drugs.

Witness Alan Newton, 61, said: “It was horrendous. The father had a damaged shoulder and head injury. The pram was completely crushed. There was no hope for the little one. The mother was shouting, ‘my baby, my baby’ over and over again.

"The father was just distraught. The paramedics came and the police, some of whom couldn’t look it was so distressing. They held their heads in their hands. They said it was the worst thing they had ever seen.”

The father, in his thirties, was taken to hospital where his condition was initially deemed critical. He has since been discharged.

Police, including some off-duty officers, were among emergency services who tried to save the child but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver was interviewed in custody before being released on bail.

Mr Newton said: “This poor family were on the pavement walking home from their routine evening trip to the park. It’s a tragedy.” Flowers have been placed at the scene. Police said the family was being supported by specially trained officers. Detective Sergeant Sarah Donegan, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, appealed for witnesses or anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage to come forward.

Meanwhile, a mother killed in a suspected hit-and-run on Friday night has been named as 21-year-old Rhiannon Hall. Ms Hall, a pedestrian, was hit by a car in London Road, near the junction with Garth Road, Cheam. The driver failed to stop but was arrested a short time later on suspicion of drink driving. He was taken to a police station for questioning and has been released under investigation.

Any witnesses to the toddler’s death can call police on 020 8246 9820 or 101, quoting CAD 4892/25OCT20 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.