A SPEEDING motorist left a pensioner injured and his dog dying after a callous hit-and-run incident in Sea Street at Herne Bay.

Bryan Leader, 70, of Poplar Drive, Greenhill, Herne Bay, had parked near a roundabout to take his labrador/greyhound cross for a seafront walk at about 8.20am on Monday.

They waited for traffic to pass but then Mr Leader was struck by the wing mirror of a green Peugeot passing at speed.

"It must have been doing about 60mph and had the radio blaring out," he said. "It smashed into my elbow with the wing mirror and swung me round so I hit the side of the car. Then it ran over my dog. If it had been another half an inch over it would have killed me."

Although he rushed his pet Sophie straight to a nearby vet she died shortly afterwards.

It was then he realised he had been hurt. The vet called paramedics who treated injuries to his shoulder and leg.

Mr Leader, who has lived in Herne Bay all his life, said: "I am devastated about my dog. I have had her for more than 14 years. She was my faithful companion.

"The lad must have known he hit me and he must have known he had gone over my dog. But he didn't stop. What sort of person would do that?"

Police told Mr Leader the culprit could face two charges of failing to stop after an accident and failing to report hitting a dog.

Anyone with information is asked to ring Canterbury police on 01227 762055 or ring the free, confidential Crimestoppers number 0800 55511.