A YEAR ago the nightmare that haunts every parent came true for a Bishop Auckland mum.

Michelle Aldworth's world was shattered when her bubbly and bright daughter, who loved dancing and dressing up, died after a hit-and-run accident.

Leonie Shaw, known as Lollie, was six, Ms Aldworth's middle daughter, when she was mown down by a hit-and-run driver in front of her friends.

Leonie was crossing the road near her home to buy sweets. She died a year last Tuesday.

The driver, 34-year-old Colin Meek, of Spennymoor, fled the scene with his girlfriend Emma Lee, only after first stopping and taking a few steps towards his six-year-old victim.

Leonie's friends and relatives filled the railings next to the road with flowers and toys and special tributes were paid at her school, St Andrew's Primary.

Ms Aldworth, 34, summoned up courage and was in court when Meek was sentenced to four years in prison. He admitted causing death by dangerous driving and various other traffic offences. An initial charge of child cruelty was withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service. Emma Lee was jailed for two months after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting a failure to stop after an accident.

Ms Aldworth chose the anniversary of her daughter's death to talk for the first time.

She said: "He means nothing to me. I had my day then."

Ms Aldworth and daughters Jade, 11, and Emily, three, have moved house since the tragedy and are trying to rebuild their lives.

Although she has never lived there, Leonie's spirit fills the family's new home on the edge of the Woodhouse Close Estate.

The front room mantlepiece and shelves are filled with photographs of Leonie looking every inch the double of mum.

The dolls she loved and all her clothes, including a lime green disco outfit she wore when she won her first, and only, dancing competition, are locked away in the attic.

Ms Aldworth cannot bear to part with anything. She said she still cannot face the dreadful realisation that her little girl has gone and has only recently accepted counselling.

She said: "Leonie was the best. There will never be anyone like her and she will never be forgotten.

"She loved dancing and won the first competition she ever entered. She was full of life but she could be quiet as well.

"She always said she would never leave home and would always stay with me, but she did leave.

"Now, some days I can't face getting up in the morning but I have to go on. You just have to get through it.

"Sometimes I just try to blank it out but it doesn't go away and it never will. The girls have lots of friends and cousins and the whole Aldworth family for support.I want to thank everybody who sent messages and helped us.

"The police were great all the way through the accident and court."