A DRIVER failed to stop after knocking a cyclist off his bike, 'leaving him for dead', according to police.

The cyclist, a man in his 50's, was travelling along the B4553 at Common Platt, Purton, at around 12.05pm yesterday, when a passing car knocked him off his bike.

The driver of the car who hit the cyclist failed to stop, but thankfully other passers-by did and administered first aid while they waited for an ambulance.

Unconscious for three to four minutes, the cyclist was taken to hospital with injuries to his face, shoulders, arms and hips.

He was later discharged and is now recovering at home.

PC Nick McVey, from Wiltshire north community policing team, said: "This could very easily have been much more serious.

"The driver would have realised he had hit someone and left him for dead, lying motionless at the side of the road.

"We now need to urgently trace the driver and we are hoping the public will be able to help us with this.

"We have evidence which was left at the scene, as well as accounts from a number of witnesses, so we hope someone will read this and make contact with the police."

A distinctive near-side wing mirror, which was black with small grey rectangles, was found on the side of the road at the scene of the crash.

Witnesses also reported seeing a black vehicle following a heavily-modified silver three-door Vauxhall Corsa with tinted windows and aftermarket wheels, accelerating away from the area at speed, in the direction of Cricklade.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage in the area is asked to call PC McVey on 101, quoting crime reference number 54180095883.