PHOTOS of a mum killed by a hit and run driver have been released as police call for the driver to give themselves up.

Erika Prisacaru, who was 39, was on foot when she was hit by a car in The Grove, Dorchester at 7.45pm on Wednesday, December 27.

She was rushed to hospital but died of her injuries.

Her six-year-old son Andrei is being cared for by her relatives, and all family members are being supported by specially-trained police officers.

Detectives investigating have now issued CCTV images of an Audi and say they need to trace the driver.

Inspector Joe Pardey, of the traffic unit, said: “Following detailed enquiries we believe we have identified a vehicle that was in The Grove at the time of the collision.

"This is a dark-coloured convertible Audi A3 and may have been driven by a black man. The car was noticeably dirty.

“As part of our investigations we have established that this vehicle left Station Road in Brewery Square at around 7.40pm, was in The Grove at the time of the collision and then returned to the Brewery Square area at 7.55pm.

“I am releasing CCTV images of the car in the hope that someone recognises it and can help us identify the driver. Did you see this vehicle, or a similar car, in either The Grove or Brewery Square areas at the relevant times on Wednesday, December 27? If so, please contact Dorset Police.

“It is possible that the owner of this car is local or they may have been visiting the Dorchester area over the festive period. If you know someone who drives a similar car and has been acting suspiciously since the collision, please call us.

“A little boy has been left without a mother as a result of this collision and I would again appeal directly to the driver to please do the right thing and come forward. It is imperative we speak to you to establish what happened that night.”

A 24-year-old man from Dorchester, 36-year-old man from Piddlehinton and a 43-year-old man from Bristol who were arrested in relation to the incident were established to have not been involved in the collision and were released without charge.

In a statement, Erika's family said: "Erika Prisacaru - much loved daughter of Maria and loving mother of six-year-old Andrei - was sadly hit by a car on The Grove, Dorchester.

"The car driver did not stop and left Erika seriously injured, lying in the road. She was taken to hospital but sadly died of her injuries.

"Words cannot describe how we feel. Our lives are destroyed and we feel empty and without hope.

"We please ask the driver, or whoever knows who the driver is, to do the right thing and contact the police. We ask for privacy at this time of grief and mourning."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 3:315.