HIT-AND-RUN victim Katie Scales returned to York Hospital - to present a £300 cheque to help other patients on the children's ward.

The money was donated by Evening Press readers after the 11-year-old Haxby schoolgirl was badly injured in an accident in Blossom Street, York, early in December.

We hoped to raise £1,000 in less than a week to buy Katie a top-of-the-range computer in time for Christmas, so she and her friends could communicate by email during her long recovery.

It was agreed with her family that anything in excess of £1,000 would go to the children's ward, where she was treated for ten days after the accident.

In fact, donations totalled £1,314, and Katie handed the excess cash over to staff yesterday on behalf of the paper.

Sister Jill Crampton was delighted with the money, saying it would be used to buy two combined TV/video recorders to go in separate rooms within the ward.

"This will mean that the children can enjoy their favourite films during their stay on the ward," she said.

"Being able to watch television or a film helps to reduce the stress of being away from home."

She said charitable donations were greatly appreciated, because they could be used to buy extra equipment that was not provided through normal funding.

Katie's mother, Sarah, said she was pleased other children on the ward could benefit from the Evening Press appeal as well as her daughter.

She also praised staff on the ward during her daughter's stay.

"They were fabulous. We couldn't have asked for more. They would do whatever you needed. They were so caring."

She said Katie was continuing to recover steadily from her injuries, sustained when she was knocked down by a black Fiat Punto whose driver drove off without stopping. The driver is still being hunted by police.

It is hoped that Katie will go back to All Saints' School after the February half-term break.

Updated: 10:59 Saturday, January 18, 2003