A PEDESTRIAN is in hospital with serious injuries after a hit-and-run, sparking a hunt to find the driver involved.

The victim was rushed to hospital on Sunday night after being hit by the car at roughly 8.15pm on Hamstel Road, Southend.

Essex Police has confirmed the driver fled the scene and is yet to be located.

The pedestrian - an adult man - was taken to Southend Hospital with serious injuries and Essex Police has launched an urgent appeal for witnesses to come forward.

Southchurch Tory councillor Darryl Jones has been left “appalled” by the news of the hit and run.

He said: “This is appalling, I am disgusted that someone could just hit someone with a car and drive away, I cannot condemn that enough.

“We have a responsibility to show some empathy to people and make sure they are okay, I am assuming witnesses called the police and my heart does go out to the victim.

“I hope they recover.”

Mr Jones added that he has been attempting to get road safety measures installed down Hamstel Road for a long time, as it is “particularly bad.”

He said: “We have been calling for road safety down Hamstel Road for so long and Colin Campbell and I have to call out speeding down many roads, but Hamstel is particularly bad.

“We need more safety on that road anyway, it is something we are constantly fighting for.

“It is just atrocious someone could drive off, I don’t understand, the fear is not an excuse.”

A police spokesman said: “’Officers were called to Hamstel Road at around 8:15pm on Sunday, 14 July following reports of a collision involving a car and a pedestrian.

The victim was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The car involved failed to stop at the scene. Enquiries remain ongoing and no arrests have been made at this stage.

“Anyone with any information, including CCTV or dashcam footage is asked to contact us quoting reference number 1151 of 14 July.”

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called just before 8.15pm on Sunday with reports that a pedestrian had been hit by a car on Hamstel Road in Southend.

“An ambulance was sent to the scene and transported the patient, an adult man, to Southend University Hospital for further assessment and treatment.”