The father of an 11-year-old girl who was seriously injured when she was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver today made an emotional appeal for the motorist to come forward.

Jeff Scales, 38, of Haxby, York, said his daughter Katie had lost her memory and could not recognise her own mother, Sarah, after the accident, and was seriously ill in hospital with a broken jaw, broken shoulder, and two broken arms.

Katie was involved in a collision with a black Fiat Punto on a marked crossing outside her school, All Saints on Blossom Street, York, on December 4.

Police said the Punto went through a red light and then speeded up after the accident.

Mr Scales told a North Yorkshire Police press conference: ''This has been a nightmare for our family. It is still at the back of Katie's mind that the person who ran her over hasn't come forward.

''She is not going to be the same after the accident. The hospital have told us that she may have mood swings and headaches and she has had to have metal plates in her jaw. We just want the person to come forward so we can put an end to this nightmare.''

Traffic officer Richard Gatecliffe said: ''I have a message for the driver of that Fiat Punto.

''We want to hear your account of events. I understand you may be fearful and apprehensive about coming forward because of the publicity surrounding this incident but we have many questions and you may be able to give us the answers.

''Do not underestimate our efforts to find the person responsible for this.''

To date 185 out of the total of 206 Puntos registered in York have been traced and eliminated. Inquiries are now being extended to the Leeds area.