A DRIVER of 50 years' experience is frightened of going out on Bradford's roads after she was involved in a hit-and-run crash with an uninsured driver.

Christine Taylor, 73, of Eccleshill, has now thrown her support behind the Telegraph & Argus' Stop The Danger Drivers campaign.

She was driving in Daisy Hill with a friend when the driver of a silver Vauxhall Vectra smashed into her Kia Picanto at the junction of Heights Lane and Lynfield Drive.

Her car suffered severe damage to a front wheel, the front axle, headlight unit, wing and bonnet.

Ms Taylor said the other driver - believed to be a man - immediately drove off from the scene.

The incident had left her and her friend "absolutely shook up".

"It has made me very, very wary and very frightened," she said.

"By gum, it shook me. I am scared to be out on the roads now. It was dreadful."

Ms Taylor said she had been left about £2,800 out of pocket because the other driver had still to be found and the Vectra was not insured.

She had spent £1,800 on repairs to her car only three days before the crash, and then had to shell out £2,250 on a replacement vehicle. She also lost her £150 insurance excess and only received £1,400 for the scrap value of her Picanto.

Ms Taylor said she is considering a 'no win, no fee' solicitor to get her some compensation.

"This has cost me dearly, so near to Christmas," said Ms Taylor. "I am still in shock, but only one of many more unfortunate drivers who, like me, were legal on the road.

"I hope the police can do a big purge on these idiots."

In the aftermath of the collision, Ms Taylor said another vehicle pulled up alongside her car.

She said: "A white Audi with two young Asians in stopped to see if we were hurt, and asking where the idiot went.

"They then set chase and came back to us and showed pictures on their camera phones of the car smashed all down the driver's side, as they had found the car abandoned in a cul-de-sac.

"They came back to the scene of the accident where we were in shock.

"I would like to say thank you to the lads who helped and for showing kindness to us in distress. I think it was brilliant that these lads went after him."

On the Telegraph & Argus campaign, Ms Taylor said: "I think it is brilliant what you are doing. I applaud the Telegraph & Argus campaign. Something needs to be done about Bradford's roads."

On driving standards in Bradford, she said: "I think they are horrific. I never normally bothered or thought about it when these people were coming flying past me but now this has happened."

She added: "It has got twice as bad in recent years. These people do not care - I don't think they even care whether they kill themselves. They have no fear.

"If I had been another yard or two further back he would still have swung out-of-control and would have hit a big tree.

"I could not believe my eyes when he did a runner. I believe he drove the car to where it would not go any further."

A police spokesman said the Vectra was found less than half a mile away in Walden Drive, Heaton, on the same day of the crash which occurred on November 12 at about 7.20pm. No-one has yet been arrested in relation to the crash, added the spokesman.

Any witnesses to the collision, or anyone with any information about the Vectra driver, should contact police on 101.