A businesswoman, who says she is too scared to leave home after she was run over and left walking with crutches, is appealing for witnesses to help catch the driver.

Stella Olumeko, 56, of Stokes Road, East Ham, was coming home from a midnight service at Our Lady of Compassion Catholic Church when she was hit by a car in Green Street at about 1am on New Year’s Day.

The driver of the vehicle, which is believed to have been a black BMW, did not stop. Despite getting a partial number plate, no one has yet been arrested.

Ms Olumeko, the owner of a Stratford carers’ agency that tends to the elderly, suffered leg, head and back injuries and still uses crutches to help her walk – five months after the collision.

“It has turned my life around,” she said. “I was very active before but now I have put on weight because I do not leave the house. It has been terrible.

“I’m too frightened to leave the house. I don’t even go to church anymore unless my son takes me.”

Ms Olumeko said she is desperate for witnesses to come forward to help catch the driver.”

She said police had effectively “closed the investigation” and appealed for people who may have seen what happened to come forward.

“I remember there being a lot of people around so I’m appealing to anyone who saw anything to tell the police,” she said.

“The accident has left me in a bad way. I still need support when I walk, I have lost a nail on my left foot. It’s horrible and I just want justice.”

A Met spokesman confirmed officers had been called to reports of a woman struck by a vehicle on January 1.

He said: “The woman was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service and treated for head and leg injuries.

“The vehicle involved was reported to be a black BMW and a partial registration number was recorded.

“Inquiries were made to find the driver of the car.

“At this time police have been unable to trace the person responsible.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111