A grief-stricken teenager injured by a hit and run driver today paid tribute to his "good friend" who was killed in the crash.

Daniel Claughton is recovering at his home in Brackendale Grove, Thackley, after the incident which killed 21-year-old Robert Watmuff of Hornsea Drive, Wilsden.

The friends were walking home from a Bingley nightclub to Harden when they were struck by a hit-and-run driver and left for dead.

They had earlier turned down a taxi ride with one of their friends to walk home.

Speaking from the family home Daniel paid tribute to his friend: "He was just nice to be around. He was good at sport and a good friend.

"We were planning to go on holiday together with some other friends this year. He will be badly missed."

Daniel suffered cuts to his shoulder and back and bruises to his calf and shoulder when he was knocked down by the car early on Saturday morning.

Robert's parents, John and Brenda Watmuff, and his sister, 16-year-old Lisa, have been left devastated by the tragedy.

The families of Daniel and Robert joined together to make an impassioned plea for witnesses to help police catch the hit and run driver.

Robert's aunt, Julie Fickling, 37, of Wellington Road, Wilsden, said: "How can someone just drive away and leave two boys on the road for dead?"

Daniel has no memory of the incident or of walking home up The Twinings towards Harden.

He said: "I remember going to a club in Bingley and then leaving to get something to eat.

"Then we decided to walk home because Robert had done it many times before.

"After that I don't remember anything about the walk or being knocked overt."

Daniel, who works for Jack Pennington's in Shipley said he had known Robert for the past two years and had met up with him on a regular basis.

Daniel's mum, Kathryn Claughton, has echoed Robert's family's plea for witnesses to come forward to the police.

She said: "All I know is one boy's dead and another will take a long time to get over what's happened.

"Who has the right to take away the life of a young man in a split second? Whoever it was had no right to drive away like they did."

Police are now hunting a maroon coloured, British Leyland make of vehicle, which will have damage to the front passenger side with a broken headlight and a damaged wheel arch and wing.

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