A BROMSGROVE teenager had a miraculous escape when she was struck by a runaway car while enjoying a picnic with her family at a popular sporting event.

Rebecca Lammas, 13, her mum and dad and young brother Peter, aged three, along with scores of other families were enjoying an al fresco meal on the steep hillside overlooking the course at the Wheatland point to point meeting at Chaddesley Corbett on Sunday (May 9).

Suddenly, to her horror, Rebecca spotted an unattended locked car careering downhill towards them.

The plucky youngster yelled a warning as the vehicle, which was gathering speed, got closer.

Without thinking she instinctively thrust out a hand in a vain bid to stop it crashing into her family.

The glancing blow lifted Rebecca into the air as her father Andrew leapt forward to snatch his daughter to safety.

The car, owned by a driver from Droitwich, carried on downhill eventually coming to a standstill in a gap between two other vehicles.

Only minutes earlier a family had been sitting on the spot also enjoying a picnic in the warm spring sunshine. One of their chairs was trapped beneath the car.

Rebecca, who attends St John’s Middle School, Watt Close, suffered shock, a badly cut hand and injuries to a hip, knee and ankle.

She was taken by ambulance to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital after being examined by the course doctor.

She was released later that evening but has still to undergo tests.

During the incident a stout rope used to cordon off part of the car park was severed by the runaway vehicle. A loose end, under tension, whipped past little Peter, missing his head by inches.

An officer from West Mercia Police took statements from witnesses at the scene.

Rebecca’s shocked mum Amanda said: ‘’Rebecca had a very lucky escape. It’s a miracle her injuries were not more serious or that she was not dragged beneath the car.”

Bridget Chappuis, health and safety officer for Wheatland Hunt, said: “I have spoken to the health and safety executive about what happened and they are happy that there are no issues at Chaddesley Corbett and that it is just one of those unforeseen circumstances. I have made a full report that will now be kept on file.”