SOMEONE somewhere will be very nervous today. The driver of the black Fiat Punto which hit York schoolgirl Katie Scales must know the net is closing in.

That person is either utterly heartless or very afraid. It is inconceivable that they are unaware of the terrible harm they have caused.

Today the father of 14-year-old Katie made a direct appeal for the driver to go to the police. If the perpetrator has any conscience or common sense, they will do just that - before the police find them.

York police's extensive operation to find the driver has been boosted both by modern technology and tremendous public support.

On Tuesday we published a picture from CCTV footage which clearly showed the Punto heading towards the red traffic lights as a group of schoolchildren prepared to cross.

It was a disturbing image which yielded important leads. Witnesses have come forward. More than 100 Fiat Punto drivers have gone to York police station voluntarily to help detectives eliminate them from their inquiries.

This response was prompted by widespread disgust at the crime.

Motorists make mistakes. It was dark. It was busy. The driver could have been distracted or suffered a lapse of concentration.

We have all witnessed near-misses; in this case, the consequences were devastating.

But what happened next was unforgivable. To drive off knowing that you have hit someone, and then to fail to own up once your panic has subsided, are the actions of an abject coward.

We have two messages today. The first is for the driver and the people who are shielding that person: go to the police. The longer you keep silent, the worse it will be.

Secondly, we want Katie and her family to know that our thoughts, and the thoughts of the people of York, are with them. We wish Katie a speedy recovery, and promise to continue to do all we can to help the police bring the case to a swift and just conclusion.

Updated: 11:45 Friday, December 13, 2002