A DRIVER has been charged in connection with a hit and run crash that claimed the life of a teenager on Christmas Day.

Chris Garrod, 17, of Pinehurst, pictured, was knocked down by a dark-coloured hatchback as he crossed Great Western Way just before 1am on Christmas morning. He later died in hospital.

Twenty-three-year-old Nicholas Love has been charged with careless driving and failing to stop at the scene of the accident.

Police spokesman Martin Dunscombe said: "A 23-year-old local man has now been charged with driving without due care and attention, failing to stop and driving without insurance."

Tomorrow will mark six months since her son died, but for Chris's mum Becky the wait has been too long.

"I think six months is a long time for them just to charge somebody," she said.

"I can appreciate the police have a lot of things they have to look out for, but we can't get any closure.

"We have still got to go through a court case and an inquest. We can't grieve properly because we still have to go through all of that.

"The police haven't really been in regular contact with us.

"We have always been the ones to phone them and ask if there is any progress.

"The police don't know what it's like. They don't have the pain we have. It is just another case number for them but for us it is real, we have lost our child.

"My parents have lost their grandson. My children have lost their brother. Our family liaison officer PC Glenn Powell has been really good."

Mr Dunscombe said the investigation had taken this long so that all the necessary tests and procedures could be followed.

Swindon police are currently investigating several other unrelated deaths on the town's roads. On December 15, 22-year-old builder Pino Mazzotta was killed on the A419 after he was struck by a car as he walked home from a Christmas party in South Cerney.

No one has ever been arrested in relation to Pino's death.

On March 14, seven-year-old Tyrese Hannah was killed as he walked down Drove Road with his mum Caroline and dog Odi. A 19-year-old from north Swindon was arrested at the scene. No-one has been charged.