A young father left hospitalised after being knocked off his bike is appealing to the person who hit him to come forward.

Ian Jones, 24, was on his way back from a late shift at Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital, Herne Bay on Thursday evening when the hit-and-run crash occurred.

He was riding along Manston Road towards his home in Esmonde Drive, Manston when he was struck by a car between Woodchurch Road and Shottendane Road.

"I didn't even have time to look behind me, it just completely wiped me out from behind," he said.

"I either mounted the bonnet or the windscreen, and was thrown about five metres up the road. [The driver] didn't even brake, he just carried straight on. I couldn't believe it."

Unable to find his phone, which had been sent flying into a hedge, Mr Jones lay in the road until a passer-by stopped and phoned an ambulance.

"I was on the phone to my mum at the time, so my mum heard it all," he continued.

"I was trying to find my phone, and then someone else stopped and phoned an ambulance. So I just lay in the road until it came."

The accident destroyed the healthcare assistant's bike beyond repair and has left him in hospital for more than three days, where he remains in a great deal of pain.

"I haven't broken anything, remarkably, but I have done some damage," he said.

"I'm all bruised and I have had to have a catheter. I'm still getting back on my feet and I'm probably going to be in hospital for a couple more days."

"On the day it happened, I had just finished being supervised in my new job in the NHS. This has set me back. I have to take time off, and am missing out on my training.

"I've got a four-year-old daughter as well, and obviously she's upset.

"You would hope that, even if they didn't stop straight away, they would think the next day, 'I need to see if this person is alright'.

"There's just no consideration there for another person's life."

"I'm all bruised and I have had to have a catheter. I'm still getting back on my feet" - Ian Jones

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police officers investigating a collision near Birchington are appealing for witnesses.

"On Thursday 26 July 2018 a vehicle, believed to be a 4x4, was in collision with a cyclist along Manston Road B2050 at around 9.40pm."

Investigating officer PC Jonathan Ferns continued: "The driver of the vehicle had left the scene before officers arrived but we believe it was a silver coloured 4x4.

"We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision or has since seen a vehicle matching this description in the area that may have damage to the front bumper."

Anyone with information or dashcam footage is asked to phone Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting reference 26-1687.

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.