Detectives investigating the death of a war veteran today released an E-fit image of the hit-and-run driver who knocked him down as he crossed a road.

The officer leading the investigation has renewed calls for the public to help catch the man responsible for Harry Atherton's death.

Mr Atherton, 85, suffered chest injuries when he was hit by a stolen car in Saltaire Road, Saltaire, near to his home just before 3pm on Friday, June 1.

He died nine days later at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Witnesses have described how Mr Atherton was carried along Saltaire Road for about 50 yards on the bonnet of the blue T-registration Mazda 626 before it braked, throwing him into the road.

The car, which had been stolen from the Shell garage in Bingley Road minutes earlier, was later found dumped in Crag Road, Windhill.

Detective Superintendent Phil Sedgwick said: "We believe the man in the car was local to or has connections with the area where it was dumped.

"I don't think he will have been able to keep what happened a secret and will probably have said something to someone, so we'd like to hear from anyone who recognises him or has heard anyone talking about what happened.

"This case is still being investigated. We have still got an incident room and a team working on it full-time and are awaiting the outcome of forensic tests. We are hoping that someone will now come forward. I'm sure we will get to the bottom of it.''

He said the E-fit image of the suspect had been compiled using information given by witnesses.

The man police are looking for is described as white, aged in his late teens or early 20s, about 5ft 8in and slim. He had short brown or ginger hair, brushed forward at the front, and is thought to have a spotty or scarred face.

He was wearing a dark blue, short, zip-up jacket, light blue jeans and white trainers.

Detective Superintendent Sedgwick said that officers were also still trying to trace a motorcyclist thought to have tried to stop the Mazda after following it through Shipley town centre and two men who tried to block its path with their car as it sped away from the scene.

Anyone with any information about the suspect or incident is asked to call police on (01274) 537422 or (01535) 617059.