Toddler killed as her father reverses car down the family drive - the second child to die that way in a week

Angus Davison is thought to have been on his way to work when he accidentally reversed into his daughter Greta when she wandered into the path of his car on the driveway.

Despite desperate efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to hospital.

Mr Davison, 42, pioneered the use of polytunnels in the UK. His wife Beata, 40, a paediatric doctor, is thought to have been inside the farmhouse at the time of the accident.

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Yesterday the grief-stricken couple were too shocked to speak about the tragedy. They also have a three-year-old son, Finlay, and a daughter, Ariana, aged six.

Police say there are no suspicious circumstances and stressed they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the accident which happened in Ledbury, Herefordshire, shortly before 9am on Tuesday. An inquest has been opened and adjourned.

No other details of the accident have emerged but it is the second time a toddler has been knocked down and killed on a driveway this week.

Jake Younger, aged 18 months, was killed as he ran out to greet dad Neil Lawson, 29, as he reversed up the family drive in Kibblesworth, near Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, on Thursday.

Mr Davison, founder of Haygrove Fruit Farms, brought polytunnels to Britain after renting a single field to grow strawberries under plastic as part of a university experiment over 20 years ago.

He has since built up an international polytunnel company and he is credited with reviving the fortunes of the £200 million British soft fruit industry. In 2002 he was awarded an MBE for his services to agriculture.

He met his Hungarian-born wife when she was one of the 500 students who arrive every year to pick strawberries on his farms in Ledbury and Newent.

Mr Davison's operation, which supplies major supermarkets such as Tesco and Marks & Spencer, has sparked controversy in the past.

Some local councils have objected to the polytunnels, which are erected without planning permission, as they cover fields in swathes of plastic.

Yesterday fellow farmers pledged their full sympathy and support to Mr Davis.

One leading light in the agriculture industry, who did not want to be named, said: "It's such an absolute tragedy, a horrible thing to happen to any family.

"It's every parent's worst nightmare and growers all over the country are desperately sorry for him.

"Angus is such a well-known, respected figure, people can't believe something so terrible could happen to such a nice chap.

"One minute they are a happy family, a split second later their lives are changed for ever."

An inquest into Greta's death was opened and adjourned by the Herefordshire Coroner on Thursday.

A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "A baby girl died after being involved in a collision with a car at her home address.

"The baby, who was 17 months old, was rushed to hospital in Hereford but sadly was pronounced dead a short time after arrival.

"Our thoughts are very much with the family following this tragedy. The family ask the media to respect their privacy at this extremely difficult time."