An innocent charity worker narrowly escaped death when her car was peppered with bullets.

Elisa Dalzell, who was born and bred in Harlesden, was just inches from losing her life as shots whizzed past her head during the terrifying incident in Mexico, a fortnight ago.

The 26-year-old former John Kelly’s student claims trigger-happy undercover policemen thought her black Cherokee was a getaway car used in an armed robbery and opened fire with powerful rifles.

Speaking exclusively to the Wembley Observer about her ordeal, Ms Dalzell said: "I am totally shaken up. The incident was a bit of a blur, but all I remember thinking was that I have to get out of here."

Ms Dalzell, who has been in the country for the past five years, working as a therapist for her father’s charity Centro Nijo, had just left the driveway of her home in El Zapotal, when she was repeatedly fired on.

She said: "It was around 1.45pm on September 26 and I had just left my house when I saw a grey pick-up truck drive past me.

"It suddenly screeched to a halt and turned, blocking both lanes. Around four men then got out and two had rifles."

Thinking the plain-clothed men were criminals about to rob or kidnap her, terrified Ms Dalzell tried to escape by reversing back up her driveway.

But as she did, the suspicious men opened fire, spraying her truck with bullets which sailed through her windscreen.

The charity worker said: "I was in a state of shock and absolutely petrified.

"I felt a bullet pass my head and smash into the back windscreen,

shattering the glass.

"There were around 10 to 15 shots fired."

Uniformed policemen turned up at the scene minutes later to find the shaken victim quivering on the side of the road.

Ms Dalzell said: "I was taken to the station and questioned, but my statement was not documented at all.

"I then went outside and saw the same pick-up truck that the gunmen were in. I approached the commander to ask what was going on but he claimed the truck was out of service. Some men then walked into the station and I recognised them from the attack.

"I then realised they must have been policemen – I couldn’t believe it."

The former Brent resident was then told that an armed robbery had taken place on the same day, and the culprits had got away in a car which was exactly the same as hers.

Ms Dalzell added: "I don’t feel comfortable going out alone, I still haven’t got behind the wheel of a car and I feel nervous when I see trucks with people sitting in the back."

Ms Dalzell’s mother, Sally, a lecturer from Greenford, said she was beside herself with worry after hearing about the incident.

She said: "These people were obviously shooting to kill.

"Elisa called me from the police station and I was devastated. At first I thought it was an attempted kidnap, because Mexico has a big problem with that, so I was relieved to hear she was okay."

The charity worker’s family are now taking legal action against Mexican police, who are not permitted to open fire on anyone unless they are fired at first.

Ealing MP Steven Pound is also fighting her corner and is in talks with the British Foreign Office.