A grieving family say they are "empty and without hope" as police release CCTV images of a car they believe was involved in a fatal hit-and-run. 

Officers investigating a fail-to-stop collision in Dorchester, which killed a 39-year-old mother, have released the images in the hope of tracking down the driver. 

The female pedestrian, named as Erika Prisacaru from Dorchester, was taken to Dorset County Hospital but died of her injuries. 

A 47-year-old local woman was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and perverting the course of justice.

She has now been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

A vehicle has also been seized.

Police initially said a 27-year-old woman had been arrested but in an update, Dorset Police amended the age.

Police were called to reports of a collision between a pedestrian and a car on The Grove just after 7.45pm on Wednesday, December 27.

Police say Ms Prisacaru had walked down a flight of stairs opposite the junction of School Lane last Wednesday, December 27 when she was hit by the car in The Grove.

She leaves behind her six-year-old son Andrei, who police say is ‘distraught’ and is being looked after by his grandmother, who also lives in Dorchester.

Following enquiries, police are "confident" that a dark-coloured Audi A3 was in The Grove at the time of the collision, and are working to identify the vehicle which was “noticeably dirty”.

Dorset Echo:

CCTV image of the car being investigated by police. Picture: Dorset Police

Inspector Joe Pardey, of the traffic unit, said: “I would like to thank the very many members of the public who have come forward in response to our appeals.

“I am still keen to hear from anyone who saw a dark-coloured convertible Audi A3 in either The Grove or Brewery Square at the relevant times on Wednesday 27 December and has not yet spoken to officers to please call Dorset Police.

"I would also ask for any motorists who were in these areas and have a dash cam on board to please contact us.”

In a statement, Erika's family said: "Erika Prisacaru - much loved daughter of Maria and loving mother of six-year-old Andrei - was sadly hit by a car on The Grove, Dorchester. 

"The driver did not stop and left Erika seriously injured, lying in the road. 

"Words cannot describe how we feel. Our lives are destroyed and we feel empty and without hope.

"We please ask the driver, or whoever knows who the driver is, to do the right thing and contact police. We ask for privacy at this time of grief and mourning."

Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email SCIT@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 3:315. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.