POLICE said today they believed someone was covering up for the hit-and-run driver who knocked down York schoolgirl Katie Scales.

Officers hunting the driver of a black Fiat Punto said any friend or family member keeping a secret out of misplaced loyalty should think again. "All they are doing is making it worse for the person they are shielding," said PC Richard Gatecliffe.

"My feeling is that there must be at least one other person who knows who is responsible, or at least has very strong suspicions.

"If someone is covering up for the driver, I am asking them to do that person a big favour and call the police now on 01904 631321. The longer this drags on, the worse it makes the driver look."

He spoke out as fresh news emerged about Katie's condition at York District Hospital. Police said she was now fully conscious, but in a lot of pain and distress, and would have to undergo surgery on a broken arm, having already had an operation to fix plates in her jaw.

Police also revealed they were pursuing several important new leads in the search for the motorist, including one from a driver who came forward after seeing his white Ford Sierra on CCTV footage reproduced in Tuesday night's Evening Press.

"The media are doing a first-rate job for us with the publicity given to this serious incident," said Sergeant Graham Carroll, in charge of the investigation. "I believe that coverage across the region could well bring us the breakthrough we need."

A man seen posting a letter in the CCTV footage spoke to officers last night during a special police operation at the scene of the incident in Blossom Street, carried out exactly one week after Katie, from Haxby, an 11-year-old All Saints' School pupil, was hit while crossing the road at a pelican crossing.

Sergeant Graham Carroll said a number of Punto drivers also stopped to speak to police last night.

Police have checked 169 of the 420 black Fiat Puntos registered in the York area. More than 100 of those were checked at the police station, in Fulford Road, after their owners came forward. "This shows how committed York residents are to supporting the police and doing their bit to bring to justice the person responsible for putting a little girl in hospital, said PC Gatecliffe. "They have helped us enormously."

The car police are hunting is a black Fiat Punto, dating from 1999 onwards. It is believed to have a N registration, which could mean it was registered in the Newcastle area.

Sgt Carroll said police in the Newcastle area have been asked by the North Yorkshire force to check out the drivers of a number of Puntos.

He revealed that fresh details about the black Punto had been discovered during specialist enhancement of the footage, but declined to reveal what they were.

Updated: 15:47 Thursday, December 12, 2002