Police hunting a hit-and-run driver who killed a hospital secretary today arrested a man they found hiding under a van, a force spokesman said.

Beverley Smith, 20, was hit as she crossed Cass House Road, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, at about 11am yesterday.

Acting on a tip-off, police found a 34-year-old man hiding under a van in the Hemlington area and arrested him early today.

He was being held at Middlesbrough Police Station and was due to be questioned later.

Ms Smith was treated at James Cook University Hospital, where she had worked for a year as a secretary in the X-ray department, but staff were unable to save her.

She had been struck by a dark-coloured Ford Focus, which was found abandoned in nearby Nuneaton Drive.

Inspector Steve Lawson, head of Cleveland Police's traffic unit, said yesterday the driver must have known he had hit the pedestrian.

Today he renewed his appeal for any witnesses to come forward, whether they saw the Ford before the collision, when it hit Ms Smith, or as it was driven away.

Last night Ms Smith's mother Norma Lawrence paid tribute to her, saying her only daughter was involved in voluntary work for a charity which helps Romanian children.

She added: ''Beverley was a girl who liked films, computers and always had a book in her hands.''