A baby girl was killed when she was thrown from her parents' car in an accident on the M4 near Swindon yesterday.

The child was in the back of the car travelling on the motorway with her family when the dark blue BMW suffered a tyre blow out.

The car spun out of control, crashing into the verge on the westbound carriageway near Liddington at about 3.15pm yesterday.

The child, from Middlesex, was flung from the vehicle as it rolled on its side and onto the grass bank.

The girl's family escaped the crash unharmed, but the baby was pronounced dead on arrival at Bristol's Frenchay hospital.

PC Glenn Powell from Wiltshire Police's Northern Roads Policing unit said: "This was a single vehicle road traffic accident. A blue BMW was travelling westbound on the M4 when they had a rear wheel blow out.

"The vehicle mounted the nearside bank and overturned on the grass verge, throwing a young child from the car and unfortunately she was declared dead on arrival at Frenchay hospital."

Traffic police closed the motorway following the accident while the vehicle was recovered from the road and drivers were told to use alternative routes.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service sent four fire engines to the scene of the crash to rescue people trapped in vehicles. Another fire engine was sent from Berkshire.

A Wiltshire Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said: "We received a call at 3.20pm and were called to reports of persons trapped but did not have to cut anyone out.

"Three pumping appliances and an aerial appliance from Swindon were dispatched as well as an appliance from Berkshire.

"Vehicles were made safe to make sure they didn't burst into flames."

Jill Wood, site manager at Frenchay Hospital, confirmed a baby girl involved in a collision on the M4 was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information should call 0845 408 7000.