Detectives are questioning three men in connection with the alleged kidnap and rape of a three-year-old girl from Cardiff who was saved by Swindon police.

The three-year-old was snatched from her Cardiff home and driven almost 80 miles to Swindon.

South Wales Police this morning confirmed that the 26-year-old driver of the car the girl was found in was being questioned and that two further men, aged 34 and 47, were arrested in Wales and are currently being questioned in connection with the incident.

The men were being held in custody.

Swindon police, who like forces across the country had been put on alert for the Ford Escort Ghia, spotted the car and chased it from Blagrove onto the M4 and then to Marlborough before it crashed, injuring the toddler.

The girl's distraught mother was with her as she was treated at the Great Western Hospital for "significant injuries".

She said: "I am numb. I'm just in shock and want to take my daughter home. She was on her way to bed. It's like a nightmare.

"You don't expect this to happen to you.

"The police had everybody out looking for her. They were brilliant."

The little girl is said to have been coaxed from the family home in Cardiff on Monday night at around 10.15pm.

Once she realised her youngest child had been snatched, the mother dialled 999 and police forces nationwide were told to look out for the suspect's car.

Police in Swindon spotted the vehicle at 1am yesterday and followed it for around 12 miles.

Officers first saw it near Blagrove, and followed as the driver drove onto the M4 at junction 16.

He then headed east to the Swindon East junction 15, and left the motorway taking the A346 south towards Marlborough.

He drove through Marlbrough and onto the A4 before crashing on the way to Hungerford.

After the crash the girl was taken to GWH in the air ambulance and the man was arrested.

The girl's 34-year-old mother said she believed her daughter was injured when the car crashed.

The mother-of-six added: "She's been asking for her dummy and her brother."

Chief Insp Charlie Dibble of Swindon police said: "It is reassuring to know that this incident has been resolved with the return of this little girl to her parents."

The driver of the car was arrested on suspicion of kidnap, drink-driving and several other motoring offences.

He was held at Gablecross station in Swindon before being handed over to South Wales Police.

It is believed that the man is known to the family but is not related to the girl.

Swindon police are now appealing for anyone who saw the L-registration Ford Escort Ghia in Swindon on Monday night to contact the road policing unit on 01793 528111.