THE MUM of a promising teenager who died following a hit and run in Spain has said she has given up hope that police will find her daughter's killer.

Nicola Johnson, of Grove Lane, Chigwell, was crossing a road outside Marbella in the early hours of July 24 last year when she was knocked down by an Audi TT.

An inquest in Chelmsford today heard the 18-year-old, who was on holiday with a friend, suffered serious head injuries. She died that evening in hospital in Malaga, surrounded by family.

Speaking after the inquest, Sue Johnson, 54, said: "She was the apple of my eye and I loved her to bits.

"There's no reason why Nicola had to die. She wasn't ill. She was just out there with her friends.

"Half an hour before she was killed I was texting her and then I didn't understand why she didn't text me again."

The motorist fled the scene and, despite finding the car's front grille, Spanish police have failed to track down the vehicle.

Mrs Johnson, who is deputy headteacher at Oaklands School in Loughton, said she felt police could have done more to widen their search.

"It's hopeless, absolutely hopeless," she said.

"The person that hit Nicola knows that they hit Nicola and probably killed her.

"That person has driven off - they're not going to take the car into the local area.

"Why can't these police find a car? Yes, I do feel they should have done more."

She said the A-7 Cadiz to Barcelona dual carriageway where Nicola died was a 'notorious' accident blackspot and she feared more lives would be lost unless safety improvements were made.

"I don't understand why the authorities in Spain don't do something about it," she said.

"That car must have been going at 50 or 60 miles an hour to lift her and wallop her against a lamppost like that.

"I'd like to see cameras put along there, speed limits and it being enforced by the Spanish police.

"It's just a loss that is unexplainable really, but it will be put right by the Spanish authorities doing something about it."

Nicola, a popular student at Epping Forest College, was just weeks away from receiving her A-level results when she died.

She received an A and two Bs and planned to take up a place studying journalism at City University.

Mrs Johnson - who has two older sons - made the decision to donate Nicola's organs, as the talented gymnast and netball player had wished.

She said: "Nicola always said 'if by some awful fate I get taken before you mum, then I need to give something to someone else who's not as lucky as I am'."

She added: "I think we are quite strong as a family. Most of the time we are doing well but there's certain days that are difficult.

"We talk about Nicola. She's a good memory."

Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray ruled Nicola had died as a result of a road traffic collision, adding: "She was a bright young lady who probably had a very promising future ahead of her."

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