A devastated father today pleaded for help in catching the killer of his teenage son.

Tearful dad Paul Haley said he had lost not only his son but his best friend after a hit-and-run driver ploughed into 18-year-old Andrew in Barkerend Road, Bradford.

The teenager, of Fagley, had been out with friends when a red VW Passat knocked him down and failed to stop to help. Andrew suffered massive injuries and was dead on arrival at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Andrew's dad Paul, 38, spoke for the first time today about his son's death and said his world had fallen apart.

"He was my best mate and I feel so empty without him," Mr Haley said.

"He was the kind of son any parent would be proud of."

And he made a simple plea for anyone who may have witnessed the accident on Barkerend Road close to its junction with Barlow Street.

"Please help to find the person responsible for killing my son," he said. "All I ask is that if anyone knows any information, no matter how small or insignificant, please tell the police.

"Someone out there thinks they have a licence to kill."

Andrew, a former pupil at Yorkshire Martyrs Catholic College, Tong Street, had celebrated his 18th birthday earlier in the month and was set to start his career as a joiner. He had been out with friends on the night of Thursday, October 18, and had separated from them at around 10.20pm while he called to get a drink from a shop.

It was then that he was knocked down by the car and suffered fatal injuries.

The Passat,thought to have been stolen, was later found burned-out in Wapping Road, off Canal Road, Bradford.

"He was known by so many and never forgotten by anyone who met him. His smile would light any room," Mr Haley said.

"I wouldn't want anybody to go through the pain and hurt I am feeling right now.

"If these people that knocked him down were human beings they would have stopped and taken the consequences.

"This is not the first person to be killed on Barkerend Road by a speeding car and I doubt very much that my son will be the last.

"It could be your child next time."

Bradford South traffic officer sergeant Keith Cluderay, overseeing the investigation, said unearthing more information about the Passat was crucial to unravelling the case.

He said: "What's happened is quite awful. This lad was just crossing the road, not doing anything wrong and now he's dead.

"Somebody has this on their conscience and we need to find them, unfortunately some people don't seem to have a conscience nowadays.

"The car holds the key to this case and we need information from anybody who saw the vehicle being driven in the area or burned out.

"We need people to come forward."

Anyone with any information should contact Bradford South police on (01274) 376459.