A WOMAN was left lying injured in the dark after a hit and run crash on a country road near Dorchester.

Police, who described it as a ‘callous act’, are hunting the driver of the unidentified vehicle involved.

The 32-year-old victim, from Dorchester, suffered a leg injury after being knocked off her grey Peugeot moped by a vehicle which failed to stop.

Emergency services personnel had to search in the fog and darkness for her because she was unable to tell rescuers exactly where she was when she raised the alarm.

It happened near Hampton Farm along a minor road north of Winterbourne Abbas between the A35 and Muckleford.

Farm workers told how they saw emergency services at the site treating the woman. The road is known as a ‘rat-run’ for drivers going between the A35 and A37.

PC James Prowse, of Dorchester police, said: “This was an extremely callous act by the other driver who would have known that they were involved in a collision.

“The victim was left lying in the middle of the road in dark foggy conditions and she was unable to give the emergency services her exact location. A search was initiated and she was located a short time later.

“Despite her injury she managed to get to the side of the road – it was fortunate that she was wearing reflective clothing.

“The driver of the other vehicle has shown a complete disregard for the moped rider and has driven off without leaving any details or checking on her welfare.”

PC Prowse added: “I am appealing to that driver to do the right thing and to contact police.

“This incident could have easily had a far more tragic outcome and I am appealing for witnesses and anyone with information to come forward as soon as possible.

“All calls will be treated in confidence.”

No arrests have been made.

Julie Holder, secretary at Hampton Farm, a beef and arable business, said the road where the crash happened runs through the farmyard.

She said: “We have two blind bends at either end of the road here and there are rumble strips and slow signs but it’s still a fast road.

“The morning it happened was mucky and foggy, really awful conditions.

"The emergency services were at the scene when we came in that morning.

“I saw the damage to the bike, it was scraped all down one side and the wing mirror had come off.

"The police said it could have been a lot worse."

West Dorset councillor Alistair Chisholm backed the police appeal for information.

He said: “Just out of human decency you would have thought the driver would have stopped to see if she was all right.

“You just can’t take off like that, it’s appalling, thoughtless and cowardly.

“The police will find this driver, I’m sure it’s only a matter of time.”

The crash happened at around 7am on Wednesday, December 11.

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101 quoting incident number 11:35.