THE distraught daughter of a pensioner seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident was today keeping a vigil at his bedside.

Denise Cocklin, 56, said her dad, Parker Ince, was in a critical but stable condition after suffering a severe head wound near his home in Dryden Road, Padiham, on Tuesday evening.

Mr Ince, 83, was walking his black Labrador dog, Max, when he was hit by a car.

Police said the driver dragged him to the side of the road but fled the scene when others started to gather round.

The car, which was registered to a false address, was later found outside an empty garage in Station Road, Padiham.

Mr Ince was taken to Burnley General Hospital but was later transferred to Oldham Hospital.

Denise said her dad is well known in Padiham and often chats to people while out walking Max.

She said: "He loves that dog, they walk for miles together and I think he talks to the dog more than anyone else. Max has been his companion since my mum died two-and-a-half years ago.

"He is a rescue dog and dad says Max really kept him going."

Denise, 56, of Harrow Close, Padiham, described her dad, who has three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, as a quiet man who is very close to his family.

She and her husband Bob, 58, were due to fly to Lanzarote for a holiday with him yesterday.

Denise, a housekeeper for Ashbourne Nursing Homes, has also paid tribute to the staff at Burnley General Hospital. She said: "I really cannot thank all the doctors and nurses enough.

"They were in checking on him every few minutes and kept telling us what was going on - they were absolutely brilliant."

A man was interviewed by police in connection with the incident today.