A GRANDMOTHER was run down and killed by an armed carjacker as she took her young grandsons for a walk in the sunshine.

Pamela Phinn, in her late 40s, was pushing the children's double baby buggy, alongside her son's 28-year-old partner, when the carjacked Honda Civic ploughed into the family yesterday.

Supermarket worker Mrs Phinn was confirmed dead at the scene.

The children and their mother were taken to South Tyneside District Hospital, where the children were described as "giving cause for concern", while the mother's condition was described as "serious".

Eyewitnesses said that the mother, who suffered multiple injuries, tried to push the children's buggy out of the path of the oncoming car, which was being followed by police, but couldn't get it clear of the full force of the collision in Horsley Hill Road, South Shields.

Mrs Phinn's neighbour, Jackie McIntyre, said last night: "Pamela was a lovely lady and a loving grandmother.

"She was an attractive lady, she loved her family.

"Her son and his partner have two little boys and they are often seen around the town with them in the double buggy".

She added: "She worked in the George clothing section of the local Asda and was very popular."

Mrs Phinn's death was confirmed last night by her estranged husband, who declined to comment.

Her three-year-old grandson was believed to have suffered a fractured skull and facial injuries.

Her 18-month old grandson was initially thought to have escaped with minor injuries as the car, which minutes earlier had been hijacked by an armed man, mounted the pavement and ploughed into them.

The children's mother was believed to have suffered multiple fractures to her legs and chest injuries.

An eyewitness said: "The car came down the road at what must have been 75 to 80mph, hit the bollard on the bend and went out of control.

"It looked for a moment as though it was going to go straight into the Westoe pub, but the driver managed to pull it around and the car swerved and hit the kerb and went up onto the pavement.

"The double buggy was being pushed down the pavement by two women standing either side of the pram.

"The car hit them and catapulted the buggy into the air. It went up about 20ft into the air.

"The car hit the women and carried one of them on the bonnet over the road, where the driver regained control, and she was flung off into the bushes.

"It was horrific. After that, I just put my head down and could not look."

A 34-year-old residential home worker said she was on her way to work when she saw paramedics tending to two injured children.

She said: "One of the kids was a little baby boy and he was crying and screaming his head off.

"The other one, who looked about two years old, was lying still.

"The paramedics picked up both the little boys and put them into the ambulance with both of them in oxygen masks and drove off at speed."

Darren Johannesen, 34, a plasterer, of Hebburn, South Tyneside, said: "We saw the police escorting some lad away.

"He was handcuffed and was swaying and his head was all over the place.

"He was fighting the police. They tried to shove him into their car and he was punching out and trying to get away. The guy was in his late 30s, maybe 40."

George Robinson, 88, a retired miner, who lives close to the scene of the incident, said: "It happened 15ft from where I was standing gardening.

"There was a mangled pram and a woman lying on the pavement in a heap unconscious.

"It was a double buggy and I think there were two little ones in it. One of her babies was lying close to her on the pavement and I think the other child was lying next to my wall on the other side of the road."

Police were in pursuit of the silver Honda Civic, which was taken from its driver by an armed man in Western Approach, South Shields.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "The incident started at about 2.10pm when the police responded to a report from a member of the public about being thrown out of their car by a man who threatened the motorist with a weapon.

"The Honda Civic was seen by a marked police vehicle and followed for a short distance.

"It is known to have collided with two parked cars and then a number of pedestrians in Horsley Hill Road.

"One pedestrian has died and a number have been injured. One man was arrested at the scene."

Any witnesses are asked to contact Northumbria Police on 0191- 454 7555.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is to investigate the police pursuit.

Commissioner Nicholas Long said: "My thoughts are with the families and friends of the deceased and the injured.

''This incident was a tragedy of the worst kind. An innocent woman lost her life while out walking on a sunny afternoon.

"Our investigation will seek to establish whether the pursuit that lead to her death was in line with driving procedures laid down by Northumbria Police Force and whether any actions could have been taken to prevent this tragic death."