The mother of Lily-Rose Murphy, the 11-year-old girl killed after being hit by a car at a Stanmore bus stop before Christmas, remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The woman, named locally as Samantha Hyde, of Samuel Close, Stanmore, was with her daughter at a bus stop in The Common, Stanmore, between the junctions with Warren Lane and Wood Lane, at 12.20pm on December 17 when, police believe, a Ford Fiesta travelling northbound swerved into the southbound carriageway before colliding with them and a stationary 142 Watford Junction to Brent Cross bus.

Lily-Rose, who attended The Bushey Academy in Bushey, Hertfordshire, was pronounced dead at the scene, and a post-mortem examination found the cause of death was a broken neck.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman told the Observer today: "The 46-year-old mother of Lily-Rose Murphy, 11, who was killed in a collision on December 17 in The Common, Stanmore, remains in hospital in a critical condition.

"The 69-year-old female car driver was taken to hospital. She has now been discharged. She has not been arrested."

No-one on the bus was injured and the passengers who saw the fatal crash are still being urged to come forward alongside other motorists and passers-by to help officers compile a picture of the incident.

Detective Sergeant Chris Osborne, of the Road Death Investigation Unit based at Northolt, said earlier: "We are appealing for any witnesses to this tragic incident to contact us.

"We are aware that there were a number of passengers on the bus involved, and a number of other vehicles in the vicinity.

"If you have any information we would like to hear from you so we can work out exactly what happened."

n Anyone with information is asked to contact the Witness Line on 020 8842 1817.