A Hampshire teenager was killed when she was the victim of a hit-and-run driver who sped off to torch the car in a remote field.

Student Emma Holley, 18, had been had been heading for a bus stop just yards from her home when a red Volkswagen Golf ploughed into her from behind.

The teenager was then struck by a second passing car which pulled over and the driver rushed to her aid before raising the alarm.

Paramedics raced to the scene close to the village of Downton, near Salisbury, where Emma was studying to be a beauty technician at college.

After the accident on Wednesday night police believe the hit-and-run driver drove along the A338 and set fire to the car two miles away.

It is thought he walked back to the nearest main road and got a taxi which headed for Salisbury. Emma, pictured, had moved to the Downton area two weeks ago from her family home in Ringwood.

She was last seen just before 6pm, when she waved goodbye to her housemates as she left to catch a bus to Salisbury to meet a friend.

Emma's parents, Gordon and Janet Holley, were today being comforted by relatives at their three-bedroom home.

Her father is a hospital administrator and her mother is a care worker at an OAPs' home.

Mr Holley said: "It seems such a waste that someone could plough her to one side and then carry on, leaving her lying there.

"Everyone has heard of the Good Samaritan, this is exactly the opposite.

"This was somebody who injured somebody and disappeared. It is just unbelievable. It is not even callous, it's unbelievable.''

He added: "We have got to live with our son now, who has lost his sister, for the rest of our lives. She was in the flower of her youth.''

Sgt Paul Hardyman, of Salisbury police, said: "We are still putting the pieces together and are making urgent appeal for witnesses who may have seen Emma walking home or the car.

"This was a horrifying accident and we desperately want to catch the person who did this. It was a very reckless and callous thing to do.''

A man was questioned by officers over the incident after walking into Salisbury police station yesterday but has been released on bail pending further investigations.

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