A WOMAN was run over by her own vehicle when she accidentally knocked off the hand brake in Cinderford on Friday.

Fortunately eight passers-by rallied to lift the Mercedes van sufficiently to free her.

The 30 year old woman was standing outside the vehicle on a steep drive on Cinderford High Street while strapping a child into a seat.

When she hit the handbrake lever, the Mercedes Vito rolled backwards dragging the woman and trapping her between the door and the ground.

Eight men at the scene lifted the van together to free the woman, who was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital by ambulance.

A police spokesman said: “The woman was conscious and breathing at the time.

“After initially believing it to be quite serious, it was deemed not as bad as first reported but she was taken to hospital for a check up as a precaution.

“The van had also collided with another car but no serious damage was reported.”