This is the heart-stopping moment a hero driver saved a toddler running on a busy road in northeast Thailand.

The shocked motorist pulled over when he saw the girl bolting into traffic in Nakhon Ratchasima province on Thursday.

Footage shows the runaway youngster, dressed in pink and holding a milk bottle, dashing in front of oncoming cars near a daycare centre.

The driver immediately braked and rushed out of his car to scoop her up, before returning her to the roadside.

A noodle shop owner who witnessed the incident said: 'At first I thought she was the delivery driver's daughter. But when his truck turned down an alley, I realised something was wrong. Why hadn't anyone picked her up? She still had a milk bottle in her mouth.

'I screamed for help when she stepped onto the road. Then, the driver ran and grabbed the child. I was so shocked. I didn't expect a toddler to escape from the childcare centre and run onto the road like that. Luckily, there weren't many cars at the time.'

The daycare facility has reportedly apologised to the girl's family and vowed to tighten safety measures.