A 70-YEAR-OLD cyclist is continuing to fight for his life after a hit-and-run on the A338 near Fordingbridge.

Police have renewed their appeal to find a white Ford Transit flatbed vehicle, which was involved in the incident on the northbound carriageway at around 9.20am on Thursday.

The crash left the male cyclist, who is from Salisbury and being treated at Southampton General Hospital, with life-threatening head injuries.

Officers were out on the A338 yesterday and stopped more than 300 vehicles to hand motorists appeal leaflets containing information about the van.

Hampshire Constabulary’s Inspector Andrew Storey said: “We are appealing for the help of members of the public to find the vehicle that was involved in the collision.

"The vehicle left the scene without stopping and we need to find it.

"Since the incident we have been following several lines of enquiry to find this vehicle but so far we have been unable to locate it. So we are appealing to members of the public for their help.

“This was a serious collision which has left a man in a life-threatening condition in hospital."

Inspector Storey said the force believe the vehicle was manufactured between 2000 and 2006.

“Initial information gathered at the scene indicated it was a darker vehicle, but as the investigation has moved on and we have gathered more intelligence, we now believe that the vehicle was white.

“The vehicle is a single cab, has a double axle, has extra ‘mesh’ on both sides of the rear and it is likely to have damage to its rear nearside wing mirror,” said Inspector Storey.

“We believe that the vehicle is local and we are asking the public to be vigilant especially when in car parks and remote areas, where a vehicle like this may have been abandoned.”

Anybody with information, including any dash-cam footage, should call 101, quoting Operation Addition.