The elderly parents of a man killed in a hit-and-run have made a personal appeal for the driver responsible to come forward.

It is nearly six weeks since the body of Robert Brown was discovered face-down in the undergrowth at the side of the A414 near Chelmsford on October 26.

So far, police investigations have not identified the driver.

Robert's parents Geoffrey, 71, and Muriel Mason, 70, travelled from their Peterborough home to make the appeal at Chelmsford Police HQ on Monday.

Mr Mason, a retired RAF serviceman, said: "We are here this morning to appeal to the driver who hit our son so that we may know how Robert died and so slowly heal several wounds which remain."

He said both he and his wife, a retired nurse, were unable to come to terms with the death.

"We are still disturbed at the lack of morality and decency shown by this person as Robert lay face-down in the undergrowth by the side of the road, exposing his body to the elements of the night," he said.

Mrs Mason added: "The vehicle and its hit-and-run driver must be found. Therefore, as parents, we make this very personal appeal to anyone who has information which can help."

Mr and Mrs Mason described their son as a private person who lived in the Romford area for ten years.

They last heard from him in June when they received a letter but had not seen him for nearly 18 months and had no idea why he was on the A414.

They did not know of any connection he may have had with Chelmsford. About 20 officers have been working closely with Ford, makers of the light-coloured Iveco - thought to be the make of van involved in the incident - and have interviewed 1,500 motorists.

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