A woman today urged a hit-and-run driver who caused an accident which left her cyclist partner badly injured to come forward.

Keen rider Michael Gaunt, 63, suffered a hairline fracture of the skull when he came off his bike after a car clipped his cycling colleague. Michael was detained in hospital for five days.

He is now back home but is confined to bed.

His partner Pat Bianchi, pictured with Michael, said it could take up to a year for him to fully recover.

Now she is appealing to the conscience of the motorist who drove off after the collision and has still to be traced.

"Someone tooted the horn at the driver of the car but it didn't stop. They must have known what had happened," said Pat, 60.

"My concern is for Michael. I just want him to get well. But I also need to know who was responsible for this and I urge them to please come forward."

Michael was enjoying his three-times-a-week ride from his home in Pool-in-Wharfedale to Bolton Abbey with his friend David Broome, 34, when the accident happened.

Pat, of Oakdale Drive, said: "They were going round the first roundabout at Burley-in-Wharfedale and there was no traffic in sight. Out of the blue a small dark hatchback appeared and clipped David who was on the outside.

"They both came off their bikes. David was okay but Michael hit his head.

"He was taken to Airedale General Hospital and he has a hairline fracture of the skull. There was also some slight bleeding but they said it was nothing to worry about.

"He came home on Monday but he is very poorly and can't get out of bed. All he is doing is sleeping. He can't sit up because it makes him feel sick and dizzy and he keeps his eyes closed because the light bothers him.

"He's aware of what's going on but he has no memory of anything from when he was cycling through Otley to being in hospital. I am hopeful he will make a full recovery."

Michael has been a keen cyclist since he was 16 and has ridden thousands of miles, making the trip to Bolton Abbey with friends from the Leeds Premier cycling team two or three times a week.

Last year he cycled on a professional race course through the Dalmatian mountains in Italy and he had been planning to join other amateur riders on the Alpine stages of the Tour de France next month.

Pat said: "He just loves cycling. If he didn't ride he would be a sad man. His bike is his pride and joy."

She wants to hear from a witness who thought the motorist was a female driver but has been unable to get in touch with her.

The accident happened just before 10am last Wednesday, June 4, on the A65/A660 roundabout at Burley in Wharfedale. Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Dave Watson or PC Barry Hartley at Keighley road traffic department on (01535) 617047.