Helen Monaghan had parked her purple Ford Fiesta in Chester Avenue in Harpole between 5.50 and 6.45pm on Sunday, December 21, to deliver presents to friends.

When she left she noticed her steering was not working and after calling a breakdown service discovered her car had been hit by another vehicle, damaging the drive shaft.

She said: “I’ve worked seven days a week since May just to pay the bills, and December 22 was going to be the first morning I hadn’t set my alarm, but instead I was up early to call the insurance company.

“I have a hire car for two weeks under the insurance, but the garage I have to take my car to was open for one day before it shut and won’t open until January 5, so my hire car will run out. I face being out of pocket in the New Year for something that I didn’t do.

“I just want to appeal to the better nature of the driver of the car that hit mine and want them to come forward.”

Anyone with information can contact the Daventry Express on 01327 706712.