A DAD has thanked good Samaritans who came to his family's aid when his 3-year-old daughter was run over by a mobility scooter in Halesowen town centre.

Neve Bradley was holding her mum's hand when the scooter struck her in a shocking hit-and-run outside the Cornbow Centre, by the bus station at around 1pm on Friday (July 5).

Dad Ben Bradley said the elderly scooter driver fled the scene without even apologising - but the family were moved by the kindness of a whole host of strangers who helped them.

Neve sustained a gash to her foot in the incident and her family is calling for stricter rules surrounding the driving of mobility scooters.

Ben, aged 35, said: "The scooter ended up on top of my screaming daughter, my wife frantically shouted at the man to stop but he didn't, she eventually tried to pull the scooter off as my little girl was trapped and in so much pain she was wailing and bleeding heavily.

"The man then proceeded to blame my three-year-old for running in front of him, even though she was holding my wife's hand and there were several witnesses.

"He drove off and some teenage boys went after him, moments later the man's wife appeared and apologised to my wife.

"Workers from the buses including a cleaning lady who was such a big help, a gentleman who also helped and several members of the public tended to my inconsolable wife and daughter and cleaned them up and dressed the wound.

"There are several people we want to thank - the lady who cleans the bus stops, the teenage lads who rode after him once he left the scene, they also offered to carry my wife's shopping.

"There was also another bus station member and another woman who both helped out.

"We feel overwhelmed by the amount of good Samaritans and the level of care they showed in a time of severe distress and worry for us.

"With all negative things going on today we are so grateful and thankful to be living in Halesowen and these kind gestures by complete strangers shows what is so great about Halesowen - the amazing people who live and work here.

"We want to thank every single person who helped - in our time of need you were there."

The family live in Hilston Avenue, Halesowen. Father of three Ben, who works for Dudley Council, said Neve was treated at the doctors for a gash to her foot.

An elderly mobility scooter rider hit a woman in Blackheath High Street in an incident in February and left her with a broken hip.

Ben said: "There should be stricter rules in place about users of mobility scooters showing levels of competency and safety - in particular not fleeing scenes of accidents they have caused in ultimately what is a big heavy vehicle capable of doing severe damage and injury.

"Thankfully Neve is OK and her injuries weren't as bad as first feared.

"But next time the victim may not be so lucky."

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "Police received a report of a man on a mobility scooter driving over a three-year-old child’s foot just outside The Cornbow Centre on Queensway, Halesowen, on Friday 5 July.

"The girl is believed to have sustained a minor injury.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact police via Live Chat at www.west-midlands.pnn.police.uk between 8am and midnight or call on 101 anytime.

"Quote log number 1461 of 5 July."