A father today called on residents to help catch a hit-and-run quad bike rider who left his young son with a badly broken leg and requiring plastic surgery.

Five-year-old Nasar Ashraf was knocked down while playing in the alley behind his house in West Bowling, Bradford.

The quad bike rider made off, leaving the Newby Primary School pupil lying injured on the ground before the alarm was raised. He was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The youngster's father, Hanif Ashraf, 29, of St Stephen's Road, said: "He's still in a bit of pain but he's stable now and we're hoping he'll be able to come home today or tomorrow.

"He can remember what happened and is still shaken up about it. He keeps getting flashbacks and every time he goes off to sleep a couple of minutes later he'll jump up and say, 'Someone's picking me up and throwing me down'. He broke his leg in two places but they've put that in plaster and it seems to have been successful.

"He also had a deep cut on his head and has had to have plastic surgery on his forehead.''

The father-of-three added: "He's been lucky really because those quad bikes are very heavy and he could easily have been killed.

"The lad shouldn't have been driving there in the first place but if you do hit someone you stop and see if they're okay. He didn't stop at all.

"There have been two or three people going about on quad bikes for the last few days and someone round here must know who it is. All we know is that he was Asian and in his late teens or early 20s. If anyone saw what happened or knows who the rider was, we ask them to come forward.'' Police are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to call (01274) 376659.