A SIDMOUTH family watched in horror as their beloved puppy was hit by a car and have described their anguish after the driver fled the scene.

A SIDMOUTH family watched in horror as their beloved puppy was hit by a car and have described their anguish after the driver fled the scene.

Buster, a seven-month-old Jack Russell Terrier, was knocked-over on Monday and died 20 minutes later as his desperate owners rushed him to a vet.

Julie Bastin, 22, said she can barely eat since she witnessed the incident and her two devastated children, Kira, 5, and Dylan, 3, only returned to school yesterday.

She said: "They haven't been sleeping and they have been crying all the time.

"In my head I keep seeing the dog flipping over underneath the car. I can't stop myself from crying either and I'm hardly eating."

Julie, her former partner Nathan, and the children watched helplessly as the black 4x4, which had a two-seat cab, hit Buster at around 6pm as he was running across the A3052 after escaping from their car.

"We were travelling from Exeter to Sidmouth and Kira started being sick so we pulled over to clean her up," said Julie, of Sedemuda Close.

They stopped in a lay-by next to Harp Lane opposite the Oaklands Garage and as they opened the door, Buster and their other Jack Russell Tiny jumped out.

Julie managed to grab Tiny but as Buster ran back across the road towards them he was hit by the car travelling in the direction of Exeter.

"My daughter saw the car before I did and she ran to him but I pulled her back and then the car hit him. It all happened so fast."

Julie described how Buster was dragged along the road underneath the car for about 30 feet and the jolt was so powerful a wooden trailer attached to the back of the 4x4 lifted up off the ground.

"The car just kept on going," she said, "the driver didn't even slow down or stop to help."

A kind motorist stopped the traffic to let Julie and the family get to Buster, who was severely injured and gasping for breath.

A woman driving out of Harp Lane saw what happened and returned with a duty vet but as they rushed Buster to a surgery in Sidmouth he died from his wounds.

Now Julie has issued a heartfelt plea to the driver to come forward or anyone who witnessed the incident to get in touch with the police.

She said: "I want to know why they didn't stop or at least come back to see if Buster was OK. The driver must have known they had hit something and I hope they have a conscience and own up."

Anyone with information should ring police on 08452 777444 quoting log number 241 17/6/10.