Plea after hit-and-run

Police have launched a fresh appeal for information after a hit-and-run incident in the Borders in which a man was seriously injured.

The man was hit by a car as he walked home to Dolphinton from West Linton on the A702 early on Saturday morning.

Police said the man, who was returning after a night out, suffered a serious foot injury, a broken bone in a leg and injuries to his head and face. He is expected to require several weeks of hospital treatment.

The victim was hit by the car some time after setting off at 0315 BST and was discovered by another motorist at 0645.

This was an horrific incident made all the worse because the driver of the vehicle failed to stop at the scene Police spokeswoman

A spokeswoman said the driver would have known that he had hit the man and the accident was made "all the worse" because the motorist failed to stop.

The 21-year-old victim regularly made the walk home on the A702 and was wearing a yellow reflective poncho so that drivers could see him.

A police spokeswoman said: "This was an horrific incident made all the worse because the driver of the vehicle failed to stop at the scene and did not raise the alarm or make any attempt to check on the injured man.

"The driver would have known that his car had struck the victim who was then left lying by the roadside without assistance on a very cold night for over three hours.

"He was wearing a yellow reflective poncho and regularly made the walk home in safety."

Police investigators said the car was an old-style Renault Clio which would show evidence of being involved in an accident.

The force has appealed to drivers who were on the A702 early on Saturday morning to get in touch.