A TODDLER escaped with bruising to his head after a hit and run driver sent his buggy flying.

James Mortlock

A TODDLER escaped with bruising to his head after a hit-and-run driver sent his buggy flying.

The incident in Granby Street, Newmarket, on Wednesday night, happened just hours after a BMW driver hit a pedestrian in The Park, Great Barton, near Bury St Edmunds in another hit-and-run incident.

Detectives said both victims were lucky to have been left with only minor injuries and appealed for witnesses to either of the accidents to come forward.

A police spokesman said the Newmarket incident involved a silver K registration VW Polo, which hit the 19-month-old boy's buggy at just before 9pm but fled the scene. People in the street at the time went to help the child and his mother.

The spokesman said: “The child's buggy overturned and he is lucky to have only received a bump to the head, his mother was not hurt but was extremely shaken by the incident.”

He said the hit-and-run in Great Barton happened at 1.20pm on Wednesday: “A red BMW driven by a blonde female was in collision with a man who suffered bruising.

“The car stopped momentarily then left the scene. A member of the public helped the man at the scene and police want to trace this person as they may have important information which may assist the inquiry.”

The spokesman stressed: "Both victims are fortunate that they were not more seriously injured in these collisions. We would like to thank the people who came to the aid of both victims and helped them immediately after the collisions.”

Anyone with information about either incident or the drivers or vehicles involved should call police on 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.