A heavily pregnant woman lost her unborn baby after a car involved in a police chase crashed into the vehicle she was in.

Officers spotted a car on Saturday evening with cloned license plates. When it failed to stop, a pursuit was authorised.

The collision happened at around 11.30pm on June 13 in New Cross, south-east London.

The driver of the car the pregnant woman was riding in, a male in his 20s, was treated at the scene for injuries described as not life-threatening or life-changing.

Paramedics took the woman to hospital but were not able to save her baby.

She remains in hospital for treatment and observation but her condition is said to be not life-threatening.

The driver of the vehicle fleeing police, a 29-year-old male, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, theft of a motor vehicle, failing to stop for police, and possession of Class A drugs.

He was also taken to hospital following injuries sustained in the crash, which are not life-threatening or life-changing.

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The crash in which the pregnant woman lost her unborn baby took place in Lewisham Way, New Cross (pictured) on Saturday

As is procedure when a death or serious injury occurs in the course of a police chase, the Met has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Detective Inspector Suzanne Quinton, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: ‘Our thoughts are with the mother and father involved, and their family following the tragic loss of their child.

‘Our investigation continues. We would ask anyone with information or footage that could help to please come forward.’

Anyone with information or footage that could assist police is asked to call 101, quoting CAD 8670/13JUN.