A DRIVER who hit a young cyclist and sped off has been branded 'atrocious'.

Investigations are still ongoing after a hit-and-run collision with a cyclist left a young boy with a suspected broken leg.

The incident, which took place at 11am on Wednesday in the area of Lord Street and Harrison Street, involved a black Audi 4x4 type vehicle.

An eyewitness who lives nearby said she witnessed what happened just after the incident.

She said: "I didn't actually see the car hit him but I saw what happened just after.

"There was a boy lying on the street who looked like he'd literally just fallen off his bike.

"Then loads of people came down and were trying to help him and make sure he was okay.

"It looked like he'd fallen off his bike so I thought he was fine because he got up straight away.

"I couldn't believe he'd been hit by a car and the driver just drove off - it's awful.

"I hope they catch who did it."

Bill McEwan, Barrow Borough Councillor, is calling for the perpetrator to be caught.

He said: "It's absolutely atrocious - there is no need for that behaviour whatsoever.

"My thoughts go out the little one and his family - I really hope they can catch the perpetrator and bring them to justice."

Cllr McEwan said harsher penalties should be enforced for drivers who flee the scene of a crime.

"They can be extremely dangerous, sometimes fatal," he said.

"And a lot of the time hit-and-runs happen because the driver is drunk or on drugs which is just unacceptable.

"I definitely think harsher sentences need to be put in place for those that drive off after they've hit someone.

"It's unacceptable behaviour."

Police are appealing for any information or witnesses that could help identify the driver of the vehicle.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact PC 2757 Bredova on 101, quoting incident number 64 of October 28. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.