URGENT calls have been made for the hit and run motorist responsible for leaving an elderly man by the side of the road to come forward.

An 87-year old man is still in a critical condition in hospital after being hit by a vehicle while walking his dog along Cowpitts Lane, in Ringwood, on Sunday evening.

He was heading east along the road from Gorley Lane between 5pm and 5.30pm, when he was struck by a vehicle coming from the same direction.

The driver left the scene without stopping and the elderly man was found by a member of the public, said a spokesman for Hampshire Police.

He is still in Southampton General Hospital in a critical condition after suffering serious head and arm injuries during the incident.

Police have launched an appeal for the driver to come forward – and now Ringwood Mayor Michael Thierry has added his voice to the plea.

“It is really important that the driver who is associated with this incident goes into a police station and hands themselves in,” said Cllr Thierry.

“Sadly this isn’t the first occasion when we have had an incident like this in Ringwood.

“Jade Clark was just 16-years-old when she was killed by a hit and run driver in 2013 and while it took the police some time to find the person responsible they eventually did.

“The police have got to use every resource available to them to make sure this driver is found.”

Following news of the incident calls have been made to reduce the speed limit to 20mph along the lane.

It’s a suggestion that Cllr Thierry and Ringwood Town Council is taking seriously.

“While Cowpitts Lane appears like a narrow, quiet country lane it is actually a very busy through road for a lot of drivers in the area trying to join the A31,” added Cllr Thierry.

“There are also no pavements along the lane and there’s no lighting which can make it unsafe for pedestrians and dog walkers.

“Ringwood Town Council has a responsibility to look at the speed limits on some of the country lanes that feed from the town into the New Forest.”

At a full council meeting tonight Cllr Thierry plans to submit his plan and see if he has the council’s support to carry out a speed limit review.

“We need to be proactive to ensure that all our residents, whether they are motorists, pedestrians or dog walkers, are kept safe when using our roads,” he added.

Anyone who saw the collision or was in the area and has information which can assist this investigation is asked to contact the Totton Roads Policing Unit by calling 101 and quoting 44150371509, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.