A ROAD-RAGE victim has described how a car crashed into the back of her vehicle with two young children inside.

Ashley Richardson, 26, was driving around the Tesco roundabout in Highwoods, Colchester with her partner and two daughters, when a female driver following her started making gestures and beeping her horn.

Thinking there was a fault with her 2003 Ford Focus estate, she pulled over in Highwoods Approach and got out.

The irate female driver, in a blue Mercedes A Class, pulled up and hurled abuse at Ashley, including an insulting comment about her weight.

As Ashley stood near the right rear passenger door, the woman crashed her Mercedes into the back of the Focus and drove away in the direction of the Rovers Tye pub, in Ipswich Road.

The impact left the rear bumper with dents and scratches.

Ashley said: “The way she was gesturing, I didn’t think she was angry at first.

“When I stopped and got out, I asked what was up and then she started shouting at me, saying I was going slow.

“I was in a bit of shock when I started walking back to my car.

“She put her foot on the accelerator and pointed the car at me.

“I leant against my car and she hit the bumper.”

The woman is described as aged 20 to 26, slim with light-coloured hair which was tied back.

Ashley’s partner, Dan, managed to take down the registration number of the car during the incident, at noon on August 29, and reported it to police.

A male driver who was following the Mercedes also stopped but drove away before Ashley could get his details.

Her daughters, seven-month-old Blossom and eight-year-old Summer, were strapped in the back seat at the time and they were not injured.

Ashley said: “My eldest keeps asking: ‘Are we going to see that lady again?’ “Blossom used to drop off to sleep in the car but now you can’t get her to do that.”

Police confirmed they are investigating a public order incident.

A spokesman said: "A woman said she had been driving round a roundabout when another driver, also a woman, drove up behind her and had to slam her brakes on because she was going too fast.

"The victim, who is in her 20s, said the other woman then drove aggressively close to her and starting shouting abuse at her.

"The victim then stopped her car and got out, and the suspect continued to shout abuse at her.

"The victim said the suspect then drove the car at her and hit her car, before then driving off."

Anyone with information can call PC Jamila Carpenter at Colchester police on 101.