Claudia McDonald of Blackfield in plea to help catch hit-and-run driver on Hampton Lane

A WOMAN who was seriously injured after being thrown off her bike by a hit-and-run driver is appealing for help catching them.

Claudia McDonald suffered a broken arm and grazes to her face after the accident in Hampton Lane, Blackfield, on 18th October. She has also been left with short term memory loss.

“The car came out of nowhere. It smashed into the back of my bike, and I went flying,” said Claudia. “It then drove off leaving me lying in the road.

“The accident happened at 3.35pm virtually outside Blackfield primary school at the height of school pick up, so someone must have seen something.

“But even though it is nearly two months ago, no one has come forward, which makes it worse to be honest.”

She was riding to see a friend when the car hit her. Two doctors and nurses rushed out of a nearby surgery to tend to her.

Claudia (55), from Fawley, said: “They were fantastic. I have been back to the surgery since to say thank you with flowers. I don’t remember a thing about the accident or afterwards.

“Only from when I came to in the hospital, where I stayed for two weeks. I had to have a plate put into my arm and screws.

“I’ve been left in a lot of pain and unable to do much for myself. I find it nearly impossible to sleep at night because of the pain. It has all been a terrible shock.”

Claudia is now appealing for anyone who saw anything to come forward and get in touch with police.

She said: “If they just know the colour and what the car looked like it would help. But no one has said anything, which is so upsetting. Someone must have seen something, there were so many people about at that time.

“The person who hit me needs to be caught.

“I would ask people to put themselves in my position. I was just innocently riding my bike along and then smash, I was hit. It could have been anyone, and they could have been killed. I’m lucky I wasn’t.”

Claudia says she was told the CCTV at the school was not working.

Police are still investigating the accident. A spokesman for Hampshire Constbulary said: "We would like to speak to anyone who witnessed this collision and anyone with information about the car that left the scene.

"If you have any information or relevant dash cam footage, please call 101 quoting reference number 44240454122."

People can also report information to the police online or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.