An elderly couple on the way to celebrate their wedding anniversary have slammed the 'appalling' behaviour of a young motorist who drove into the side of their car then fled from the scene, leaving them in a state of shock.

Husband and wife, Michael Baker, 86, and Kate Baker, 80, were on their way to Devon to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary when a car 'smashed' into the side of their car on the A354 Stadium Roundabout in Dorchester.

Police have said the driver of the car has yet to be identified and that no arrests have been made in relation to the incident. Mrs Baker said that officers who attended the crash told her there were no cameras in the area.

To add to their distress, the couple, from Essex, later received a court summons after they were caught on a speed camera for going 37mph through the 30mph zone in Chideock as they made their way to Devon after the Dorchester incident, still shocked by what had happened.

Speaking about the crash, author and former lecturer Mrs Baker said: "My husband, who has a weak heart, was hemmed into the driver's side and in the darkness and pouring rain I had to get out into the middle of the road to see what had happened. I was met by an old blue banger inside of which sat an ashen faced young couple.

"I immediately asked for their details. The young woman let out a string of expletives and claimed to be 19 but would not confirm she had a licence.

"My husband was stricken with shock and couldn't find paper and pen for me to write down the registration number. I told him to call the police at which point the young girl shot back into the car, reversed back and drove off."

The couple could still drive their car, and managed to get to Sidmouth where they were married 60 years ago, but the crash caused extensive damage and they are now facing a hefty repair bill.

Mrs Baker added: "I can still hear that thump (of the collision), it was awful, the grinding and scraping as the car went down the side of our car. It was like nothing I have ever experienced before."

Mrs Baker said that, above all, they wanted to offer their thanks and gratitude to a woman and her family who stopped on the road to check to see if they were okay.

She added: "She phoned the police and an officer eventually arrived. There are some kind people ready to help."

The couple said they wanted to warn other motorists about the incident which has had such a 'huge impact' on their health and wellbeing and left them 'in shock'.

She said: "It is appalling behaviour from a young couple who do not see any harm in their irresponsible behaviour and have no intention of being accountable for it."

Mrs Baker has written to the chief constable of Dorset Police questioning whether there are any cameras in the vicinity of the roundabout which could have been able to capture the crash.

She added: "That roundabout was right by the football field, surely they have cameras there which would have picked up anybody racing down the road?"

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: "We received a report at 5.20pm on Sunday, February 6, of a two vehicle collision at the Stadium Roundabout near Dorchester involving an Audi A4 and another vehicle, which reportedly failed to stop at the scene.

"Officers have carried out a number of enquiries into this matter but the other vehicle involved has not been identified and no arrests have been made.

"There were no reports of any injuries."