A DAD has spoken of his horror after he and his baby daughter were left with whiplash and concussion after a hit and run driver smashed into their car.

Daniel Smith was taking his daughter Amelia Grace to stay with family on Sunday night when a 4x4 pulled out of a junction in Spennymoor, County Durham, and crashed into his car.

In the split-second that Mr Smith saw the silver 4x4 hurtling out of Briar Close, towards his side of the car, which was travelling on North Drive, he leant over in an attempt to shelter the 11-month-old from the collision.

But he said the impact was so great it pushed his vehicle, a white Kia Rio 1 Air, across the road making him hit his head on the driver side window. Amelia, who was in a baby car seat in the front, was also shaken.

“Instead of stopping to see if we were okay this scum bag reversed his car out from the side of mine and took of,” said the 23-year-old.

He rang partner Parisa Marsden, 20, who got to the scene within minutes and the family went to A&E at the University Hospital of North Durham.

Mr Smith, of Middlestone Moor, said: “Our daughter fell asleep on the way, Parisa was squeezing her feet and saying her name but couldn’t easily wake her.

“They said she had slight concussion, the next day she vomited and was drowsy.

“I have whiplash, my back and neck are hurting, and my partner has been ill with the stress.

“It was awful, it would be horrible to happen to someone on their own but ten times worse when their child is with them, it was terrifying.”

Mr Smith, a ground worker, reported the matter to police and an investigation by the road policing unit, based at Spennymoor, is ongoing.

He has also turned to social media to appeal for witnesses or anyone with information to help police.

He said: “I had no way or time to get out of the way and they knew what they had done, initially I was in shock now I really hope the police find them so they get the punishment they deserve and to hopefully get them off the road and stop them to doing it to someone else.

“That is why I put something online and I’ve had a strong reaction and have passed information on which will hopefully help.

"It was an awful thing that shouldn't have happened, we've tried hard not to let our daughter see we're upset.”

Anyone with information about the incident, which happened at around 6.30pm on Sunday, March 27, is asked to contact PC Andy Wells at Durham Police on 101, quoting incident 27032016/0310.