A father feels “lucky” his children are still alive after a thief drove off in his Audi with his two youngest children trapped in the back.

Mother Kabipriya Paladhanushan, 36, was picking up her 11-year-old son from tuition in Roman Road, Ilford, at 4.30pm yesterday, to take him, her eight-year-old daughter and five-old-son to a friend’s barbecue.

She left the car to help her son cross the road – and was only a few metres away – when a man jumped in the grey Audi and sped off towards Uphall Road with her two youngest children trapped inside.

Father Dan Paladhanushan, 40, told the Recorder: “My wife began running after the car crying and called the police.

“My 11-year-old son watched his life flash by in front of him. His two younger siblings had been taken in front of him.

“He just lay down on the floor and started screaming.”

Dan explained Kabipriya’s phone was still in the car, and with the help of the police they tracked the route of the thief.

They found he had thrown the children out of the car round the corner in Fairfield Road.

Dan, from Ilford, said: “My daughter began shouting and screaming and the man was shouting at her to shut up.

“When the guy opened the door to let her out she had her seat belt on and he just pulled her out.”

The pair were quickly reunited with their mother, and while neither were hurt both were very distressed.

Police traced the vehicle to a car park in Barking 45 minutes later. At this stage no arrests have been made and enquiries continue.

Nobody in the Paladhanushan family slept last night.

Dan said: “I don’t want this happening in Ilford ever again. I’m lucky they are still alive.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Redbridge Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.