DISTRAUGHT Louise Hibberd is appealing for help in tracing the driver of the car that killed her puppy.

Mrs Hibberd of Devizes was walking her two dogs, Jake, a four-month-old lurcher, and Troy, a two-and-a-half- year-old Jack Russell, when a car mounted the pavement in Hambleton Avenue near to Focus DIY, and struck Jake.

Mrs Hibberd, 23, carried Jake home then drove him to Macqueens vets in Hopton Park, but he died soon after arriving as his injuries were so severe.

The driver of the car has not reported the incident to the police and Mrs Hibberd is appealing for anyone who knows the identity of the driver to contact Devizes police.

She had only owned Jake, a sandy coloured lurcher, for four days before the accident at 5.45pm on January 14. She had bought him to replace a Jack Russell dog she had to have put down.

She said: "I miss Jake and thinking about what happened to him is still very upsetting. I cry about it even though I try not to let it affect me, but it's difficult at times."

Mrs Hibberd, who works as a groom, described the minutes leading up to the accident. She said: "I was picking up Troy's mess on the grass and Jake was on a lead and standing on the pavement when I heard a bump and an almighty yelp from Jake.

"I turned and saw Jake's face and he was yelping. He was in a lot of pain. I carried Jake home as fast as I could.

"I drove straight to the vets. But he died within minutes of arriving. It was horrible and I was crying hysterically. The vet took X-rays which showed Jake had broken his neck in two different places and broken four ribs.

"The driver of the car which hit Jake must have known they had hit him. I don't know how anyone could be so callous."

PC Tom Kinderman of Devizes police said: "If the car had hit a small child we could have been dealing with something even more serious." Anyone with information should ring (01380) 722141.