Emmerdale star Chelsea Halfpenny has issued an emotional heartfelt plea for help as her granddad fights for his life.
As our colleagues at Chronicle Live report, Chelsea’s 85-year-old grandfather is in a critical condition after suffering serious injuries after being struck by a car in a suspected hit and run in Gateshead on Friday evening.
Chelsea, 30, known to millions for playing Amy Wyatt in Emmerdale, has issued a plea for witnesses to come forward and more information about a Mercedes car suspect to be involved in the incident.
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Four men were seen later returning to the scene and retrieving debris from the road.
Taking to Facebook, Chelsea, niece of former EastEnders star Jill Halfpenny, said: “There are four lads who all have mams, dads, aunties, uncles, and friends so there are a lot of people in a very small area that have information on what happened last night.
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"Do the right thing. You have left somebody in a critical condition. You will be found.
"Group of 18/19 year-olds, one with fair hair, who came back to where the 85-year-old victim was lying bleeding and picked up the pieces of their damaged car and drove away. Scum of this earth."
Northumbria Police has issued a statement regarding the incident which happened at around 7.30pm at Woodburn on the Leam Lane estate in Gateshead.
Sgt Michael Parnaby, from Northumbria Police, said: “This incident has left an elderly man in a critical condition and it is imperative we find out exactly what happened.
“I would like to thank everyone who has come forward and offered their assistance to the investigation so far, but our enquiries to trace the driver remain ongoing which is why we have released further details today.
“We believe the car in question was a silver or grey Mercedes, which left Woodburn after the incident, and was last seen on Staneway. We’re asking anyone who was in the area, or anyone who thinks they may know the driver, or saw a similar vehicle in the local area, to get in touch with us as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information can contact police on 101.
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