IT WAS the sound that no parent wants to hear.

Rose Brighty was in her house in Ashford when she heard her daughter Chelsea's scream as a car hit her.

Miss Brighty, 23, said: "I dropped everything that I was doing. I just came running out and she was still on the bonnet."

Chelsea Brighty-Martin, eight, who is a pupil at Hopewell Primary School, was crossing the road from her friend's house when she was hit by the car at about 4.15pm on July 27. After hesitating for a moment, the driver sped off, abandoning the car in St Stephen's Walk. Neighbours called for an ambulance while Miss Brighty ran to her daughter.

"Chelsea said, 'I can't feel my leg', which was scary because she did think she was going to lose her leg, but she knows now she is going to have a lot of work ahead of her."

Friends, relatives and Chelsea's three-year-old brother Riley Harrison have been visiting her in the children's ward, bringing her presents, cards and sweets.

Another visitor has been her seven-year-old friend Thila Aiken, who was setting up the toy sale with Chelsea when the crash occurred. The two became firm friends when both families moved into Cryol Road at about the same time in May.

Thila's mother Kerry Lockhart said: "Thila said the driver didn't look back - he just kept on driving in the direction of St Stephen's Walk.

"She was very, very upset. She had to go in the police car and witness the car when it was found. She has had a few nightmares about it since."

By Tuesday Chelsea was feeling more cheerful and eating some food, though doctors are still unsure how long it will take her to recover fully.

Miss Brighty said: "I am going to wash her hair today - I have bought her some really good conditioner and I'm going to paint her nails and make her feel really good. We're going to make her feel even better and hopefully this will be the turning point."

Witnesses have described the car which hit Chelsea as a burgundy D-reg Ford Fiesta.

The driver is described as a tanned man with flat black hair, stocky build, wearing a black T-shirt with a white band around the chest area.

The passenger is said to be a tanned male with black hair and wearing a black T-shirt.

Anyone who saw the crash or has any information about the car and its occupants is asked to contact PC Mark Root on 01233 619051.