A father was forced out of his car – and his baby daughter hurled out while still strapped in her car-seat – by crooks in a terrifying 'car-jacking' incident this morning.

Police were called to Northfleet at around 4am following the theft.

A family friend said the victim, Ian – who did not want his surname published – rang her partner this morning following the ordeal.

She said: "He is a bit shaken and has not had a lot of sleep. His daughter is teething and does not sleep indoors so he drives her around to help her sleep."

His daughter is believed to be aged around six months old.

She added: "He was parked up and people started shining a light into the car. He undid the window and said they grabbed the keys and him. He was then dragged out of the car."

She was told by the father that his daughter was in a car seat when the suspects "threw" it on the ground.

'He undid the window and said they grabbed the keys and him. He was then dragged out of the car...'

She added: "All we can say is thank god for car seats. Ian said his main priority was going and checking on her. You do not think anything like this is going to happen. It is shocking."

Ian found his phone, which was in the car at the time, smashed at a postbox near Nisa this morning with the help of a friend, she added. They also discovered one of his other children's car seats and some discarded items near Rosherville Park.

Officers attended the scene and are now trying to confirm just what happened.

The car was reportedly stolen from Cremorne Road.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "It was reported a man and a child were removed from a parked car before the vehicle was stolen.

"Officers attended the scene and are carrying out inquiries to establish the circumstances."

Anyone with information regarding the incident should call Kent Police on 01474 366149 quoting 46/81426/22.