This is the moment a drink-driver drives his car at high speed into a three-year-old girl standing on the pavement in front of her home, with her dad then going over to repeatedly punch him in the face.

The incident took place in the city of Santa Rita in the Brazilian state of Paraiba on the afternoon of Sunday, 31st October.

CCTV footage shows how the youngster’s dad mounts his motorbike next to his daughter, with the oncoming car seen in the distance.

The car is then seen approaching at high speed, albeit still at a safe distance from the dad and daughter, until it suddenly swerves and appears to head straight towards the pair.

The man is able to somersault out of the way at the last minute. However, his motorbike and daughter are pounded by the car and pushed out of view at high speed by its bumper.

The man is seen getting up and he and another woman – reported in local media to be the girl’s grandmother – are seen rushing towards the youngster.

A second video shows how the driver of the car runs over the girl and she is left motionless on the ground before her grandma runs over and picks her up.

The second video also shows how the girl’s dad goes over to the open window of the vehicle, which had come to a halt by that point, and repeatedly punches the driver.

The driver is then seen sheepishly getting out of the car and the man and other local residents prevent him from leaving the scene before the police arrive.

According to police chief Karina Torres, the suspect was breathalysed and tested positive for having consumed alcohol. His driving licence was also found to have expired.

He was arrested and taken to the police headquarters in the neighbouring city of Joao Pessoa, where, as of Monday 1st November, he awaited a custody hearing.

Both dad and daughter were taken to A&E in Santa Rita. The dad was discharged after he was found to have only suffered mild bruises.

The daughter was treated for several fractures to her body and her health condition was last described as “stable”.

Neither the suspect’s nor the victims’ identities were reported.