A CYCLIST has suffered life-changing injuries in a hit-and-run crash.

The cyclist, a man in his 40s, was rushed to hospital after being hit by what is reported to be a black Mercedes at the junction of Tudor Road and West Road, in Westcliff, on Wednesday, at 5.30pm.

Police are appealing for witnesses, asking anyone with information to come forward.

Councillor Martin Terry, who has responsibility for community safety, has urged the driver responsible to hand themselves in.

He said: “A hit-and-run is the most abhorrent crime you can imagine. To leave someone injured like that and in that state is absolutely disgusting.

“It’s extremely worrying that this is happening - as a cyclist myself you’d like to think that people feel safe when out and about. This horrendous behaviour should not be happening.

He continued: “My thoughts are with this poor man. I hope he recovers as best he can and as quickly as he can.

“I’m sure Essex Police are doing all they can and are using all the resources they have to catch this perpetrator.

“Perhaps they will do everyone a favour and turn themselves in now, rather than having everyone chase around to find them.”

Councillor Kevin Buck, representative of the Prittlewell ward, said: “This is absolutely appalling that people are driving around so carelessly, any decent person would have immediately stopped and checked to see if they were okay.

“What’s encouraging is that there will be significantly more police around over the next few years. “Roger Hurst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, has announced that more officers will be on the streets of Southend, which I hope will help to make people feel safer. I hope this man will recover as best he can, and that anyone with CCTV or dash cam footage will bring this forward to the police.”

A spokesman for Essex Police, said: “We would ask if you were in the area the time saw the incident or have dash cam footage to please call Southern Roads Policing Unit on 101 quoting incident 0845 of November 20.”