Three young cyclists have been taken to hospital after being knocked down in a hit-and-run on the A2 near Canterbury.

Emergency services, including the air ambulance, were called to the coast-bound carriageway at just after 10pm yesterday.

Police are still looking for the vehicle that left the scene after hitting the male cyclists, near the junction for Bridge.

The men - one aged 25, Cumbria, and two aged 24, from Cumbria and South Derbyshire - are not thought to have suffered life-threatening injuries.

One was flown to King's College Hospital in London and the other two were taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

A police spokesman said: "The vehicle made off from the scene and hasn't been traced. Investigations are ongoing."

The vehicle is believed to be a Ford - possibly silver - that would be missing a black plastic wing mirror on the near side and have near side damage. It is also possibly missing a fog or side light housing.

A section of the coast-bound carriageway was closed temporarily so the air ambulance could land. It reopened just before midnight.

Roads Policing Unit Ch Insp Matthew Kendall said: "The person who was driving the Ford may be seeking to repair the damage to his or her vehicle as quickly as possible so we would ask anyone who works in the vehicle repair industry to be particularly vigilant and contact us if they are suspicious.

"Alternatively, if you know someone who has a Ford with the damage described please contact police with the details as we are investigating the circumstances around the collision."

Anyone with information is asked to phone 101, quoting reference number 20140722-1798.

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