Children narrowly escaped being hurt yesterday after a car ploughed through a metal fence into a school playground.

Seven children were sitting on a bench at Pegasus Primary School, in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, as the silver Fiat Punto crashed through the fence and into a tree next to them.

Police believe the driver had lost control after hitting a speed bump.

Nine-year-old Charley Webb, of Acacia Avenue, described how the car came inches from them.

She said: "I was sat on the bench and then all we could hear from down the road was this car and it came up behind us and it crashed.

"We ran out of the way and a teacher came and grabbed us. It was really frightening, there were five of us just crying."

The children were taken inside the school as police were called. The car was later removed by a truck.

Carol Carter, of Evenlode Tower, has grandchildren at the school and was walking along the road just after the crash.

She said: "We heard a screech and a bang and then saw the car through the fence.

"When we saw how close the car had come to the tables, I just thought, 'Oh God'. Luckily everyone was okay, but it could have been so awful."

She praised teachers' quick actions in getting the children away from the scene and into the school.

Charley's mother Amy Webb was one of several parents angry the school had refused to let them see their children before the usual finish time.

She said: "I drove past with my friend just after the crash and it was such a shock seeing it and knowing the kids had just been out there at dinner time.

"We heard there were seven kids who'd nearly been hit, but the school wouldn't tell us who they were and they wouldn't let us see them.

"It was only when she (Charley) came out of school I found out she'd nearly been hit.

"I'm really counting my blessings now. I just keep thinking of what could have happened."

Headteacher Jill Hudson said it was school procedure not to involve parents because no-one had been injured.

She added: "If there had been a problem with the children we would have telephoned parents and had them in.

"If someone was hurt or particularly upset, then we would have phoned parents.

"It could have been serious, but luckily it hit an area where children don't play."

She confirmed pupils were in the playground when the incident occurred but said they had reacted well to the drama.

She said: "They were great. They came in and carried on with their lessons."

Thames Valley Police spokesman Toby Shergold said the driver of the car had lost control after hitting a speed bump.

He said the driver and the passenger were both unhurt.