A Sidmouth mum is calling for parking improvements after her four-month-old’s pram was hit by a car when she was forced into the road.

Stephanie Edgecombe was walking with her daughter when the buggy was clipped – and the driver did not even stop.

Baby Brooke was not hurt, but her mother wants to prevent any future accidents in Lower Brook Meadow and warned: “Next time a kid could get killed.”

She took her case to Sidmouth Town Council after learning the police could not intervene in civil matters.

“Luckily, my daughter didn’t get hurt,” said Stephanie, 24. “I have to go down that road every day.

“My dad was furious when it happened, I was in shock and Brooke was crying her eyes out.”

She said police told her it is illegal to park there, but because they are local residents they must be given some leniency.

Stephanie got Councillor Jack Brokenshire on the case.

“Is there nothing we can do so mothers do not have to walk into the road?” he asked fellow town councillors at their last meeting.

“Are we going to wait until someone is killed?”

Chairman John Hollick added: “You can’t put a price on life.”

Cllr Stuart Hughes, who is also Devon’s cabinet member for highways, said it was a district council issue and the traffic enforcement officer should look into it.

Cllr Graham Liverton, who was born in Lower Brook Meadow, said: “I don’t see what’s stopping the police doing something – it’s dangerous.”

Cllr Ian McKenzie-Edwards said on-street parking should be developed to alleviate the problem.

PC Jim Tyrrell said there are too many vehicles for the narrow road - but there is nowhere else for the residents to park.

He added that if the cars were not parked on the pavement there would be no space in the road to get through.

Police have the power to remove a car causing an obstruction. Officers use their discretion in each case.

A district council spokesman said housing estates with narrow roads and few dedicated parking spaces were ‘unfortunately all too common’.