A man has been arrested after a four-year-old girl was killed in a suspected hit-and-run.

Violet-Grace Youens died in her mother's arms in hospital after being struck by a stolen black Ford Fiesta while walking through St Helens in Merseyside.

Her grandmother, Angela French, 55, was also injured in the crash and is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said a 27-year-old man from St Helens had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

A 23-year-old man from Prescot was arrested on suspicion of being carried in a stolen vehicle but later released pending further inquiries.

Violet-Grace's mother, Rebecca Youens, paid tribute to her “brave baby girl” after she died in hospital.

“My beautiful baby girl passed away in my arms on 25/03/2017 at 23:38,” she said in a Facebook post.

“Thank you for all your well wishes... she was just too poorly.

”However, my brave baby girl saved two lives by donating her kidneys and pancreas. I am truly heartbroken but proud of my little fighter.“

Two men were caught on CCTV fleeing the scene after the crash in Prescot Road at around 3pm on Friday.