A man is being questioned on suspicion of kidnapping and theft after a relieved mother hailed the "miracle" return of her baby son who was in the back seat of a car driven off by a thief.
Emma Williams, 24, had her sons Jack, 19 weeks, and Lewis, two, in her silver Lexus and was picking up their father Gareth Forbes, 32, when she was approached by a bogus police official. He told her he needed her car, which was parked in Hypatia Street in Bolton, Greater Manchester, at about 5.15pm on Thursday.
She got out of the vehicle but the man, who was wearing a police jacket, then grabbed her arm and shoved her out of the way before jumping into the driver's seat.
Miss Williams, of Boothstown, Salford, said: "I just screamed, 'He's got my kids. Then Gaz came running out shouting.
"Gaz got Lewis out of the car but then he just sped off with Jack still in the back. I was frantic because of the speed he went off at."
She said kind-hearted office workers tried to block the road with their cars but the thief swerved past them, with Miss Williams in pursuit on foot. Police said the stolen car was then involved in a hit-and-run on Bury Road outside the Black Horse pub but carried on.
Twenty minutes later, at the same spot where Jack's frantic parents last saw him, a Nissan Micra pulled up and a man jumped out, dumped Jack in his babyseat on the pavement and then drove off.
Miss Williams said: "I didn't think I was going to see Jack again. I was so relieved. He had the biggest smile on his face. He obviously didn't realise what had been going on for the last 20 minutes. I just got him out of the car seat and gave him a big hug and burst into tears. If there is a God up there somewhere, he brought him back to us. It was the best feeling ever."
Police said the Nissan Micra hit a Citroen Xsara and a Volkswagen Passat shortly after Jack was dropped off.
A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft and kidnapping and is at hospital being treated for injuries to his leg and neck. Two other people suffered minor injures as a result of the crash. Police are appealing for witnesses.
