Two young children have endured a terrifying ordeal after the car they were in was stolen by a suspect on the run from police.
Officers had tried to stop a car travelling on the M25 near Leatherhead, Surrey at around 10am on Tuesday.
The car failed to stop before pulling over on the hard shoulder – when witnesses say a number of people ran from the vehicle.
One of the group is believed to have made it to a slip road where they stole a Toyota after a confrontation with the driver.
The thief then sped off with the two children in the back of the car.
The car was driven for around five miles before being abandoned in the Whiteley Village area of Hersham, Surrey.
The two children were left with the vehicle, but were unhurt.
The incident led to the partial closure of the M25 and A3.
Surrey Police, using a police helicopter, have been carrying out searches of the area as they hunt the suspects.
A Surrey Police spokeswoman said: “This is a fast-moving and ongoing incident and officers are in the process of establishing the circumstances surrounding the events.”
Anyone with any information relating to the incident should call Surrey Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.