A girl of four was killed under the wheels of a tractor driven by her father - as her mother looked on.

The tragedy happened on a farm in Wilcote Lane, Ramsden, near Witney, as Hannah Tobin's mum Veronica arrived to pick her up from the field where husband Robert was working.

Just seconds earlier, Hannah - who lived with her parents at Field Farm, North Leigh - was riding on the tractor.

She jumped down when her mother arrived and dashed towards her. Her 43-year-old dad started to drive off, thinking she was clear of the vehicle. But moments later she was caught underneath as her mum, aged 34, watched in horror. Veronica had left Hannah with Robert while she collected her other two children from school.

A family friend said: "She was a super little girl who loved helping on the farm."

An investigation by police and health and safety officials was under way today to establish the full circumstances of the horror, which happened yesterday afternoon. Sgt Bob Gray, spokesman for Thames Valley Police, said: "The girl was on the farm with her father, who was working there.

She was on the tractor when her mother arrived to collect her. She jumped down from the machine quite safely to go to her mother.

"However, she was not clear of the tractor and the father has driven off and fatally injured her.

"It's just an absolute tragedy. "I can't even begin to think what the parents are feeling like.

"I think it is safe to say that the mother saw the accident happen. Somehow - and we're not quite sure of all the details - the father was made aware of what happened and the alarm was raised."

Hannah was taken by ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, but was certified dead on arrival.

Sgt Gray added: "There is an inquiry going on now by police and the health and safety officers who deal with agricultural land."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.