A CARE worker was thrown into the air by a hit-and-run driver in a stolen car.

The victim, who is in her 40s, was struck by a high performance red Mercedes SLK 350 AMG Sport at the junction of Mobberley Road and Thelwall Avenue, Breightmet.

The car mounted the pavement and struck the woman as she was on her way to her shift at supported living accommodation in Breightmet at lunchtime on Tuesday.

The male driver and woman passenger abandoned the Mercedes and fled on foot.

The manager at the care home where the victim works told The Bolton News: "She was walking to work because she only lives round the corner. The car just came down the road and hit her. It stopped about 50 yards before the next street.

"Witnesses said the two people in the car got out, exchanged a few words and ran off.

"Quite a few neighbours came out with towels and blankets, because it had been raining, and were helping the victim and comforting her.

"That junction is really bad. There have been three accidents in the past three months: a schoolgirl was hit by a car over the summer period."

Chloé Johnson, a friend of the victim, appealed for witnesses on Facebook and said: "The car came speeding round the corner. They mounted the kerb and knocked her over.

"She went into the air and they crashed into the fence, carried on driving and got out of the car further up the street.

"Luckily she's home now with no broken bones, just very badly bruised and sore."

The driver and passenger are described as white and in their mid to late-20s. The man is of average build and wore a grey hoodie and the woman had long dark curly hair and was wearing a black bubble jacket.

PC Matthew Picton, of Greater Manchester Police’s roads policing unit, described the incident as “shocking”.

He said: "The woman was helped by quite a few members of the public who stopped and we would like to thank them. She was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital.

"We are appealing for witnesses or dash cam footage to catch the person responsible.

"If anyone hears anything or knows anything please contact us on 101."

The abandoned Mercedes had a damaged headlight, front wing and right front wheel.

It is understood the Mercedes was taken in a burglary four days earlier from a property in Chorley Old Road, Bolton, and had been fitted with false 2012-reg number plates.

Linda Green said on Facebook that she was the owner of the Mercedes and said: "We were burgled on Friday and they stole it off the drive along with a Range Rover, the scumbags."