Police are appealing for witnesses to a hit and run accident which left a treasured pet dog seriously injured.

Iron, a Newfoundland and German Shepherd cross, suffered a broken leg after he was struck and hurled into the air by a car.

His owner, Eugeniusz Dabrowski, 59, who was walking Iron at the time, escaped injury but was left badly shocked and upset by the incident.

Iron, who is aged eight, was yesterday being cared for at the RSPCA shelter in Mount Street, Bradford, where veterinary surgeons were due to operate on his leg today.

Mr Dabrowski’s son, Slawek, 33, said the young woman driver of the car, a white SEAT Leon, initially stopped and apologised, but then drove away from the scene.

Police are now trying to trace her.

Mr Dabrowski had been walking Iron through Myra Shay Park, off Leeds Road, Bradford, seconds before the accident, which happened at about 10.30pm on Saturday, as they crossed the road at the junction of Barkerend Road and Fitzroy Road, and was himself narrowly missed by the car.

Slawek Dabrowski, of Gladstone Street, Barker-end, said his father was left in a state of shock after the incident.

He said: “The dog was on the lead and the car just hit him. My dog just flew in the air about ten to 15 metres, and landed in the road near to a bus shelter.

“He is not very well. His back left leg is fractured. But the vets say they are going to operate on it, so I am glad about that. I was scared they would have to put him down.”

Mr Dabrowski said the female driver of the car got out to apologise but drove off after his father said he was going to ring the police.

“It is fortunate my dad was not injured as well,” he added.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said the driver failed to stop and report the incident.

The spokesman said officers were appealing for the driver of the car to come forward so they could establish the full circumstances of the accident. They should contact the Roads Policing Unit at Bradford South Police on 101.