A WOMAN has appealed to the hit and run driver who left her for dead in a Basildon street, to hand themselves in to police.

Brave Martina Galvin, 33, spoke to the Echo from her hospital bed in London last night, as she recovered from an eight-and-a-half hour operation on her legs.

Her plea comes as Essex Police announce they are looking for a dark coloured Volkswagen Passat car in connection with the incident.

Miss Galvin was walking her Jack Russell, Pat, in Clay Hill Road, Basildon, at about 1.30pm on Wednesday, June 4, when she was struck by a car.

The driver drove off, leaving her in the street.

Miss Galvin, who suffers from autism and lives with her brother, Andrew Galvin, in Clay Hill Road, said: “I am really hopeful they catch the person who did this to me.

“It was thoughtless. They could have hit a child.

“My aim now is to get in to awheelchair by the weekend, so I can go out and see the sunshine.”

Shewas airlifted to the specialist trauma unit at Queens Hospital in Romford and later transferred to the Royal London Hospital, in Whitechapel, London.

Miss Galvin had broken ankles, shattered shins, and broken knees, collarbone and shoulders.

She had metal pins inserted in to her legs earlier this week.

Her brother said: “The community has been really supportive.

“Please, if anyone has information, contact the police so they can catch this person.”

Police have made a number of inquiries over the past week.

They are nowappealing for any mechanics who have repaired a Volkswagen Passat in the past week to get in touch.

PC Jenny Pirie, of the serious collision investigation Unit, said: “We are looking for a dark coloured Volkswagen Passat which failed to stop at the scene.

“We are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who may have repaired one in the last week which may have collision damage.

“The young woman involved in this incident has been left with serious injuries and is currently undergoing extensive treatment at a London Hospital.

“This was a very serious incident and I would ask the motorist involved to examine their conscience and hand themselves in to a police station.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact PC Pirie at the serious collision investigation Unit on Essex Police 101 or emailcollisionappeal@ essex.pnn.

police.uk People can also leave information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.