A MOTORCYCLIST was injured in a hit and run smash after a woman driver sped off from a service station without paying for £6 of petrol.

Police are hunting a blonde-haired woman who was driving a silver Nissan Cherry when she sped away from Farleigh Service Station on Thursday evening without paying for £6.10 worth of fuel.

As the driver pulled away from the petrol station forecourt around 6.25pm she collided with a motorcyclist who was riding past on the A36, knocking him off his bike.

The motorcyclist, a man from Frome, was treated by paramedics on the roadside for more than an hour before being taken to hospital.

The Nissan driver drove off without stopping and the car, licensed to an address in Bristol, was found abandoned in the city on Saturday.

Anthony Ball, owner of Farleigh Service Station, an independent petrol station on the A36, said: "She drove straight off and left the scene of the accident and shot down the lane towards Hinton Charterhouse with extensive damage to the front of her car."

He said his staff rushed out to help the motorcyclist, who was lying in the road, before ambulance crews arrived.

Mr Ball said customers frequently drove off without paying for fuel, but described the theft of just £6.10 worth of petrol as "pathetic".

He said he loses up to £1,000 a year through stolen fuel, with customers taking up to £50 each time and incidents happening at least once a month. He said: "It's just like throwing £50 down the drain. It's something you've already paid for and they take it. It's stealing."

Acting Sgt Tim Gillingham, of Frome police, said the damaged car was found in Branche Road, Bristol at 6.45pm on Saturday. He said the driver had not been traced.

He said: "We would like to appeal for any information related to the users of that vehicle on or around January 13."

Anyone with information should contact Frome Police on 0845 4567000.