A 36-year-old Sherwood Park mother has been hailed a hero after managing to rescue her three kids after her car was hijacked on Tuesday.

The hijacker seized his opportunity to steal the car, not knowing that her three children aged three, five, and seven were still inside. The mother was allegedly selling cakes in Gatesville a day before Eid when she realised that her car keys were missing from her stand.

Police spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut says after some chase the hijacker dropped the kids off at Pooke Road. No injuries had been reported. The car was later recovered in Hanover Park. No arrests have yet been made.