A distraught mum has one thing to say to a hit-and-run driver who left her son for dead in the street: 'Give yourself up to police '.

Paul Lupton, 24, has not regained consciousness since he was mown down by the driver of a Fiat Punto as he cycled in Bowling Back Lane, Bradford.

The impact of the collision threw him into the air and left him with terrible injuries including a blood clot on his brain, lung damage and a neck injury.

He was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary, then transferred to Leeds General Infirmary where surgeons had to tell his devastated family that he only had a 50 per cent chance of survival.

His mum Linda Murgatroyd, 42, of Hall Lane, East Bowling, and her family have been keeping a vigil at his bedside.

Miss Murgatroyd said she was sickened by the cowardly actions of the driver, whose car would have extensive damage to the windscreen and bodywork.

She said: "We want the driver to come forward so police can catch this person.

"Paul could have died because of this. If the driver has done it once he can do it again. He could have panicked and driven off. But if this was a reckless joyrider it does not bear thinking about."

Paul's condition has now stabilised but doctors will not know whether he has suffered long-term brain damage until he fully regains consciousness.

Miss Murgatroyd said: "At one time there was a 50 per cent chance he would survive because of the blood clot.

"When I saw all the surgeons and when we were being asked to call all our family, I did not think he would make it. Me and my daughter were drip white.

"He still has not opened his eyes properly, just for one second at a time. He knows we are there but just fidgets about. It's like he is having a bad dream or nightmare.

"It's hard seeing him like this because he's normally so cheerful and happy. He would do anything for anyone and goes to help out at church regularly."

She said her two other sons Stephen, 19, and Alan, 14, daughter Claire, 21, and her partner, David Stringer, 40, have been in turmoil.

Paul, who is unemployed, was on his way with a friend to his mum's house from his home in Leeds Road, Barkerend, when the accident happened at 6.50pm on January 19.

He had asked to ride his friend's bike part of the way and just as he was about to get off, the car, which was either blue or dark green, hit him.

His mum said: "His friend Jane said he was about to get off the bike to give it back when the car knocked him down. She said he flew up into the air and was carried about 20 yards down the road."

Bradford South Police have urged anyone who saw the accident or who might have seen the car or know of its whereabouts to contact PC Andy Barron on (01274) 376459.