A man is fighting for his life in hospital after he was seriously injured in a "horrific" hit-and-run in Gravesend.

The 56-year-old man, who is believed to be from the town, had been walking in London Road, near its junction with Thames Way, shortly before 7pm when he was struck by a black car.

Emergency services were called to the scene, close to the Aldi supermarket, and officers diverted traffic while paramedics treated the man.

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He is currently being treated in a London hospital where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

Officers from the serious collision investigation unit are investigating and a car, a black Vauxhall Astra, was later found abandoned in nearby Grange Road.

Video: A man is in a critical condition following a hit-and-run.

It is understood the driver of the car is still being hunted by police after failing to stop and officers are appealing to anyone who saw the incident to contact them.

A London Road resident, who saw the aftermath of the accident, said he was surprised the man hit by the car survived the crash.

He said:“We were indoors when the police knocked on the door and asked if we knew where the car had been dumped.

“We went outside to have a look and saw the area was taped and cordoned off."

The man, who did not wish to be named, said forensics officers were going over the car with a fine tooth comb for around two hours before it was taken away.

He said that due to where the car was found, close to an alleyway, he believed that the person being hunted by police was a local person with knowledge of the area.

He said: “They obviously knew where the alley was so it would have been a local person involved most definitely.

“The car looked like it was smashed up to two-feet deep on the top.

“The man has probably broken every bone in his body. I don’t know how he didn’t die - the damage was horrific.”

Many members of the Gravesend and Dartford News Facebook group also commented on what happened.

Sam Bailey posted: “An old man has been run over my friend saw him in the road."

Maria Zammit posted: “I was driving up from B&Q towards the Elephants Head and saw all the flashing lights at first I thought someone had fallen off that scaffolding there, didn’t realise it was a hit and run that poor bloke."

A spokesman for police added: “Officers from the serious collision investigation unit are appealing for witnesses to a collision in which a vehicle failed to stop.

“The incident occurred at 6.41pm on Saturday, October 24 in London Road, Gravesend.

“A black Vauxhall Astra struck a 56-year-old man but failed to stop and was later found abandoned in Grange Road."

Anyone with information should contact the witness appeal line on 01622 798538 quoting reference 24-1146.