A woman crashed her car with two children inside when trying to escape from police – and then refused to get out for more than two hours.

Officers attempted to pull the car over in Mercury Gardens at 3.15pm on Wednesday but it failed to stop.

They then blocked the car at traffic lights near the roundabout with Victoria Road but again the driver attempted to reverse away from officers, only to hit another car.

She then refused to get out of the car, which had two children in it. After more than two hours of negotiation, the children were allowed to leave the car at 6pm. The woman voluntarily left the car a short time later.

She was taken to an east London police station and interviewed under caution in relation to driving with no insurance and failing to stop for police. No arrests have been made.

The road was closed while officers dealt with the ongoing situation, which confused onlookers.

Mark Redding, who works at Kall Kwick, Victoria Road, said: “It has been going on nearly three hours. I don’t really know what happened.

“There is one police van and a squad car at the rear of our shop and other cars blocking the road.”

Inquiries into the circumstances continue.