A TAXI driver has been suspended and faces a police investigation after a disabled mother claimed he reversed into her nine-week-old baby's pram.

Boro Taxis, based in Middlesbrough, confirmed last night its driver had been suspended pending an investigation, after the law student made claims on Facebook that he had driven dangerously with her and her baby in the car, and had then driven into the pram.

Beth Hunter said: "One of their drivers put my newborn daughter's safety in jeopardy.

"He was constantly playing on his mobile phone for the entire journey (Middlesbrough to Guisborough), he was swerving out of the lanes, not paying any attention to the road.

"When the driver dropped me off at home, I paid him the taxi fare and as he was leaving he reversed into my daughter's pram on the pavement not looking where he was going. He opened his door, laughed, smirked, and drove off without giving me an apology like it was a total joke to him.

"My pram is now damaged beyond repair and I am utterly heartbroken because I heavily rely on my pram and public transport/taxis because I cannot drive due to disability.

"I am just counting my blessings that my daughter or myself were not harmed."

She said she had complained to the company but had been "fobbed off".

"This could have been a very different story with a devastating ending," she added.

A spokesperson for Boro Taxis said: “The business greatly regrets the accidental damage to the pram, which will be replaced.

"The driver is currently suspended whilst we undertake a thorough investigation. The safety of our passengers is our absolute priority and we take any concerns raised about the conduct of drivers very seriously.

"We have reported the matter to Middlesbrough Council Licensing Authority, which is the regulating body responsible for undertaking checks to ensure drivers are fit and proper to be issued with a licence to act as a private hire driver.

“The driver will have the opportunity to respond to the Licensing Authority and the Police and it would not be appropriate to ventilate the matter further in public until this matter has been thoroughly looked into and the facts verified.”

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: "We received a complaint of dangerous driving and damage to personal property on the evening of Wednesday 30th September. We are making arrangements to re-contact this lady so we can take full details of what is alleged to have happened.”