The son of a 71-year-old woman seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident in Shirley has praised the people who rallied round to help his mum.

Shrimati Pandya was hit by a motorcyclist who sped through a red light as she crossed Wickham Road in Shirley, on Friday, August 26, after going to a shop to buy some milk.

Witnesses say the motorcyclist fell off his bike but got up, climbed back on to the vehicle and rode off.

Two members of staff at motorcycle shop Two Wheels Ahead, followed the motorcyclist on their bikes but were unable to catch him.

People at the scene rallied round to help Mrs Pandya who suffered a broken collar bone and a smashed tibia.

She was taken to Mayday Hospital and has since been transferred to Charing Cross Hospital where she has undergone an operation to repair her tibia. It could be six to nine months before she will be able to walk again.

Mrs Pandya's son, Anant, 47, says he is eternally grateful to those people who tried to help his mum.

A woman working at a nearby estate agents recognised Mrs Pandya and ran to her home to alert her husband, Kanak, 71, while another passerby gave Mr Pandya £20 to get a taxi to Mayday Hospital.

He arrived at the scene in time to travel with his wife in the ambulance to hospital.

Anant said: "I am very grateful to those who helped my mum and it just goes to show there are people that care. These people went out of their way to help an old lady and I'm so grateful to them."

Anant also wants to track down the person who gave his dad £20. He said: "Someone even gave my dad £20 to get a cab to Mayday. I would like to find this man and say thank you to him. Maybe we can give him his money back."

At the time of the accident Anant was on holiday in Crete with his wife and children. He flew back to the UK after his dad called him.

He said: "You always think the worst when something like that happens so I just wanted to be by her bedside."

He urged anyone who knows the motorcyclist to come forward and said: "It is worrying that you can be crossing the road quite safely and this happens."

Witnesses should call Croydon police control room on 020 8667 1212 and quote reference number CAD6912.

n Were you the man who gave £20 to Mr Pandya? Call the newsdesk on 020 8774 6587.