A father heard his daughter screaming 'daddy I'm dying' as his little girl lay trapped under the front of a car.

Nine-year-old Caitlin O'Boyle was riding her bike when a car ploughed into the back of her and dragged her underneath the hot engine for several metres.

The girl, who is believed to attend St Joseph's School in Hanwell, was covered in blood after being smashed into a brick wall and her father and neighbours immediately tried to rescue the badly injured child.

Marta Lenska, 24 who lives opposite the scene of the accident in Studland Road was by her window and saw the horrific accident.

The waitress said: "I saw her riding on the pavement then come onto the road and the driver hit her really hard from behind.

"We could hear screaming as she was dragged under the car and smacked into the garden wall.

"It was awful, I can't get the images of her out of my head. She was covered in blood and screaming and her dad saw the bike and her shoe and was desperately searching for his daughter.

"Everyone came running over and tried to get the car up and get her out and she screamed 'daddy I'm dying' - it's still all so fresh."

Caitlin was taken to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital suffering serious injuries to her head, hip and pelvis and burns to her legs.

William Daley, 86, who is regularly visited by Caitlin and her friends said: "Katy is such a lovely girl - her and her friends come round and visit me and we have a laugh and a joke.

"I couldn't believe it when I heard what happened and then when I found out the little girl was Katy, I could have cried.

"It was lucky that there were lots of people around at that time in the morning and I hope she gets better soon so we can all see her again."

Police cordoned off the road for five hours after the accident on Sunday November 9 and the incident is still under investigation.

Ealing Fire Brigade was called at 10.40am and three crews and a specialist appliance from Wembley arrived five minutes later.

Caitlin has had plastic surgery to her head and has now been moved out of intensive care.