A mum and her two-year-old daughter were inches away from serious injury when a scaffolding plank smashed through their car windscreen.

Kath Jarratt and her daughter Lucy were driving along Sutton Road, Hockley when the plank fell from a lorry in front and collided with the car.

The plank embedded itself into the front of the car, thankfully missing Kath by a matter of inches, leaving her unhurt.

She said: “It all happened in a space of seconds. I saw the truck coming towards me and I noticed the plank overlapping the cabin and then it just took off straight at me. I closed my eyes and braced myself. I honestly thought that was it.”

Photos taken by a witness show the length and damage the plank caused, cutting through the car just inches from where Kath was sitting.

The driver of the truck has yet to be identified.

Kath added: “I slammed on the breaks and my little girl was screaming but several people stopped and helped me which was so kind.

“I could not move the car because of this huge plank but a man managed to pull it out and took the plank away for evidence and a few people gave me their details as witnesses.

“But when I called the police they wouldn’t come out and said it wasn’t their department and told me to go on the Essex Road Traffic Collision website and log it.”

The insurance firm has confirmed that Kath’s car is a write off, adding to the trauma for the family.

She said: “Of course I see it in perspective and I am thankful that neither of us were hurt but we were all shaken at the thought of what might have happened, and how different things might have been.

“I am aggrieved that the person who was responsible for this remains anonymous and has not had to be held accountable for his actions.”

The incident occurred on Sutton Road as Kath travelled from Ballards Gore towards Southend at around 10.30am last Friday.

Anyone with any information or dashcam footage should contact Essex Police on 101 or independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.