HIT-and-run victim Katie Scales has suffered a setback on her long road to recovery.

Katie, 11, from Haxby, near York, has had to have a metal plate replaced in her injured jaw, causing fresh swelling and pain.

It also means it will be at least another three weeks before she can finally start chewing and eating properly again.

"It's back to square one really," said her mother, Sarah.

"She is a bit disheartened. But we'll keep plugging away and get there eventually."

Katie was hurt early last month after being knocked down in Blossom Street, York, by a black Fiat Punto, which failed to stop.

Police have conducted a major inquiry in a bid to track down the driver, but without success so far. Katie's jaw was badly injured in the accident and doctors had to insert a plate to fix the broken bone in place.

She went back to York Hospital last week to have some "buttons" and wires removed from her jaw, which had been inserted to help keep her bite in line. She hoped she would finally be able to chew properly following their removal.

But doctors found there was still movement in the jaw bone, and decided it was necessary to replace the plate with another one.

"She is back on painkillers and has also been given antibiotics to prevent infection," said Mrs Scales.

"She was already on a different course of antibiotics because of an ear infection she got over New Year."

However, she said Katie had been boosted greatly by a computer bought by the Evening Press following an appeal for Katie before Christmas. Readers raised more than £1,000 in less than a week to pay for the computer.

Katie had wanted a new PC so she and her friends could send emails to and from each other while she remained off school recovering from her injuries.

"She has been using to send the emails," said Mrs Scales.

"She has also bought a computer game to play on it, along with a digital camera."

Updated: 11:46 Monday, January 13, 2003