A LUCKY 12-years-old Leigh boy was this week recovering from head injuries after being mown down in a hit and run accident.

Police are seeking the driver of a light blue older-type Vauxhall Astra which struck cyclist Stefan Grimshaw (pictured) in Mather Lane, Leigh, last Thursday between 8.30pm to 8.45pm, and drove off shouting obscenities.

Stefan, of Edna Road, Leigh, was riding his new bike for the first time with a friend, when the car turned off Chapel Street into Mather Lane and collided with him, tossing him over the vehicle.

The windscreen and an indicator were damaged in the impact.

Stefan suffered cuts to his head and scalp and was treated at Wigan Infirmary, after a good samaritan couple rang the family home, and he was collected by father, Gordon.

Mum Sharon said: "Whoever did this must have no guilt feelings at all. I don't know how he can sleep. He can't know whether he left Stefan alive or dead.

"Stefan has been very fortunate though. He is coming along quite well, despite losing some scalp and having glass in his head.

"We had just bought the bike for him as a treat because he has been a good lad, and this happens on his first time out.

"We have a 10-years-old disabled child and with two other children he had been feeling a bit left out.

"Obviously we're not bothered about the bike, but we want whoever did this to be caught and dealt with.

"We believe the driver is aged around 20."

A police spokesman said: "We are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to come forward.

"The car's windscreen was damaged in the collision, and we would also like to hear from anyone who has seen, or knows of, a car which has been in this condition since the crash."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.