Four-year-old girl killed in 'hit-and-run' while walking with grandmother

Police released images of two men fleeing from scene

Violet-Grace Youens was walking with her grandmother (Facebook)

A man has been arrested after a four-year-old girl was killed in a suspected hit-and-run.

Violet-Grace Youens died in her mother's arms in hospital after being struck by a stolen black Ford Fiesta while walking through St Helens in Merseyside.

Her grandmother, Angela French, 55, was also injured in the crash and is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said a 27-year-old man from St Helens had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

A 23-year-old man from Prescot was arrested on suspicion of being carried in a stolen vehicle but later released pending further inquiries.

Violet-Grace's mother, Rebecca Youens, paid tribute to her “brave baby girl” after she died in hospital.

“My beautiful baby girl passed away in my arms on 25/03/2017 at 23:38,” she said in a Facebook post.

“Thank you for all your well wishes... she was just too poorly.

”However, my brave baby girl saved two lives by donating her kidneys and pancreas. I am truly heartbroken but proud of my little fighter.“

Two men were caught on CCTV fleeing the scene after the crash in Prescot Road at around 3pm on Friday.

Anyone with information can call Merseyside Police on 0151 777 6041 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.