THE heartbroken family of a schoolgirl killed by a hit and run driver have remembered her at Christmas by decorating a memorial tree.

Olivia Whiteside, seven, died in July after she was struck by a car as she played at the junction of Billinge Street and Dalton Close, Audley, Blackburn.

So far nobody has been caught for the tragic incident, and her family are facing their first Christmas without their beloved "Dolly."

Now her mum, Laura, and aunt, Jane Smyth, have appealed to the driver to give himself up and think of what the family is suffering over the festive period.

Laura, of Laburnum Road, Little Harwood, said: "I am finding it hard, coming up to Christmas, going out to buy presents knowing that she isn't going to be there.

"Every Christmas I have always been there with her."

Her aunt Jane said: "We just take every day as it comes, we can't do anything else. She loved Christmas and we will be thinking of her on Christmas Day.

"There is a tree and a plaque at Pleasington Crematorium and the tree is all decorated now for Christmas."

Laura added: "She would have liked that. It has decorations on it and there are going to be cards with messages hung from it too.

"She always used to run downstairs at Christmas early and see the presents. We are going to try our best and enjoy it and we are going to go to the cemetery on Christmas morning."

Olivia was hit by a car as she played with her cousin while staying with her aunt. Witnesses said an Asian male driving a black four-by-four hit her.

A police investigation resulted in the arrest of five men who were later released without charge.

Hundreds of leaflets printed in English and Urdu appealing for witnesses were handed out in the area she died.

Now her mum has made a fresh appeal for the driver or any witnesses to search their conscience and come forward to help.

Laura said: "It might just bring it home to the people that do know anything about it if they haven't told anyone. We would say to them, to do to the right thing and just have a conscience."

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Hunter said: "We are still concentrating on some lines of inquiry..

"If anyone searches their conscience and has been withholding information we would urge them to talk to the police."