A BLACKWOOD girl is lucky to be alive after jumping from a speeding car that had been stolen just minutes earlier from her father.

Rebekah Phillips, 11, of Apollo Way, Blackwood, suffered cuts, bruises and grazing to her back, arms and legs following the incident in the Splott area of Cardiff on Monday.

Her father and a colleague had been making deliveries to the Portmanmoor Road Industrial Estate in a blue Ford Focus car at approximately 3.30pm when the incident happened.

On one of the deliveries they left the car unlocked with the keys in the ignition and Rebekah sat in the back.

At this time two male youths got into the car and drove off. Seconds later Rebekah managed to open one of the five doors and jumped out. The car was abandoned shortly after it was taken and no property was removed.

Rebekah was taken to the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, for treatment and was discharged later that evening.

Sergeant Wendy Gunney of Roath Police Station said: "The girl involved in this distressing incident was lucky to escape with minor injuries."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Roath Police Station on 02920 222111 ext 63310 or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.