Woman killed in hit-and-run

Beverley Smith lived with her boyfriend Steve Forth

A 20-year-old woman has died after a hit-and-run incident on Teesside.

Beverley Smith was hit in Cass House Road, Hemlington, in Middlesbrough, just before 1100 GMT on Tuesday.

The secretary from Hemlington was taken to Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital but she later died.

Cleveland Police said the driver of a dark-coloured Ford Focus drove off and the vehicle was later found abandoned in Nuneaton Close.

Inspector Steve Lawson, head of Cleveland Police's road policing unit, said the car had travelled from Stainton Way towards Viewly Centre before it hit Ms Smith.

Impact damage

He said: "There is no doubt that the driver must be aware that he struck this woman and we would urge him to make contact with the police as soon as possible.

"This incident happened in a fairly busy area.

"We need to speak to everyone who was there, who may have seen the collision, seen the vehicle being driven before the collision or seen the damaged vehicle being driven off and along roads before it was left in Nuneaton Close.

"The car had severe impact damage which would be obvious to anyone that saw it."

Charity work

Her mother, Norma Lawrence said Beverley was an only child who had lived with her boyfriend for the past couple of years.

She had worked as a secretary in the x-ray dept of the James Cook University Hospital for a year.

Mrs Lawrence said Beverley was a girl who liked films, loved computers and always had a book in her hands. She was also involved in charity work for Romanian Aid.

A post mortem was due to be carried out on Tuesday night.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact Cleveland Police.