KATIE Scales has celebrated her recovery from a hit-and-run accident with a big party attended by scores of guests.

The Haxby youngster suffered serious injuries when she was knocked down in York's Blossom Street last December by a car which failed to stop.

Evening Press readers rallied round before Christmas to raise enough money in days to buy her a new computer to communicate by email with her friends.

But injuries to her jaw meant she was unable to chew, putting a real dampener on the Christmas celebrations.

Her mother, Sarah, said then: "When you're fully better, we'll have a big party to celebrate."

With Katie's 12th birthday approaching earlier this month, Mrs Scales decided to turn the usual birthday party into a much bigger celebration event.

About 160 members of the family and friends turned up to the party at Melodies club in Wigginton Road, York.

"It was great," said Katie, who attends All Saints' RC School.

Mrs Scales said Katie had recovered well from her injuries, both physical and psychological. "Her jaw is fine and she can eat normally, and her arm, which was also broken, seems to be OK.

"She did hurt her collar bone a while ago. It may be more tender than normal after the accident. She had it in a sling, and it's better now."

Katie said she regularly crossed at the pelican crossing near the Odeon cinema where a black Fiat Punto struck her. "It doesn't bother me," she said.

Despite extensive efforts, police have still not succeeded in tracing the driver. However, PC Richard Gatecliffe stressed that the case remained open and officers would act if any fresh information came to light.

He said that in some such incidents, it could be a couple of years or more before police made a breakthrough, perhaps with a tip-off from the driver's partner.

Updated: 10:15 Friday, May 02, 2003