A HIT-AND-RUN driver who left a six-year-old girl dying was last night being hunted by police.

Leonie Shaw was flung across a busy road near her home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, when she was struck by a powerful 2.7 litre Rover car just before 8pm on Saturday.

She was taken to Bishop Auckland General Hospital and received treatment for head, leg and internal injuries, but died at 7.30am yesterday with her mother, Michelle, at her bedside.

Police last night appealed for the public's help in tracing the driver who stopped after hitting the girl, had a look and then drove off leaving her in the road.

The death of the popular girl, affectionately nicknamed Lolly, has stunned the tight-knit community on the St Andrew's estate where she lived.

A cousin of Leonie's mother, Colleen Goldsborough, who lives next door in St Cuthbert's Walk, appealed for the driver to come forward.

She said: "None of us can believe this has happened to her, nobody knows how to deal with such a terrible tragedy.

"I was on my way out when I heard that something had happened to Lolly and I rushed down to the roadside.

"I couldn't believe my eyes when I got there. She was just lying there, motionless in the middle of the road. It was awful to see her like that.

"I ran straight back to get Michelle because she had stayed at home, she was just too scared of what she might see. She was numb and in complete shock."

Colleen added: "I just hope the man who did this has the decency to come forward. I don't know how he can live with himself.

"We don't know exactly what happened, but this person should never be allowed on the roads again.

"He has taken away this wonderful little girl and then just driven away without trying to help her.

"If this person has children he must know how we all feel.

"If he is any kind of man, he will hand himself in and face the consequences."

Leonie's cousin, Sammy Goldsborough, 17, said she had been playing on swings at a nearby park with older girls before the accident.

He added: "She spent a lot of time at the playpark, it is the main place for children to go and spend time, unfortunately it is right next to a main road."

The St Andrew's Primary School pupil, who had two sisters, Jade, 11, and Emily, two, had been with two older children sitting on a fence next to the A688 Bishop Auckland bypass.

One of the other children crossed the eastbound carriageway to a traffic island, and when Leonie followed she was struck by the car, after the driver swerved in an effort to avoid her.

It is not known why Leonie and her friends were crossing the road, but nearby residents said children often cross at that point to visit a sweet shop.

Feelings were running high in the community last night and floral tributes had begun to appear at the spot where the tragedy happened.

Inspector Dave Hammond, who is leading the investigation, appealed for calm and the public's help in tracing the driver of the car.

The car is a turquoise Rover 827si, registration number H321 SWG. It is believed to be owned locally.

The driver is thought to be a man in his mid-30s. There was a front seat passenger, a woman in her 20s, and a young girl in the back.

Insp Hammond, who said a name had been put forward, added: "People's emotions are going to be running high, but if they have any information we would ask them to contact us.

"If any member of the public knows the whereabouts of the car they should not touch it, and the driver should not be approached.

"His reasons for driving away aren't known at this particular moment. Only he can answer that."

Anyone with information is asked to call Bishop Auckland police on (01388) 603566, accident investigators on 0191-386 4929, or, anonymously, Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.