A CAR which hit a mother and her two children before speeding off was being chased by police at the time, it has emerged.

A 35-year-old woman, her four-year-old son and 19-month-old daughter were all hurt in the crash in Lea Bridge Road, Walthamstow, at around 3.30pm on Wednesday (November 21).

It is believed they were on a pedestrian crossing near the junction with Western Road at the time.

They were taken to Whipps Cross Hospital but their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening or life-changing.

Police confirmed today that a marked police car was chasing the vehicle, a black Audi A3 estate, at the time in connection with an alleged burglary in Leyton.

The driver of the police car, a woman PC, and her male PC colleague passenger, stopped at the scene after the hit-and-run to give first aid to the injured family.

The Audi was later found at 1.25am burnt out in Bisterne Avenue, Walthamstow.

A Met spokesman said: "Officers from the Metropolitan Police Traffic Unit are investigating.

"The Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed as is routine."

The road was closed for more than an hour and a half following the crash while police investigated.

In the immediate aftermath of the crash police initially told the Guardian that only one child had been hurt.