POLICE are hunting a van driver who hit a cyclist, pushed her along the road for 40 feet and left her lying injured on the ground.

The victim, a 30-year-old woman from Grays, was riding her bicycle along the residential access road, which runs alongside Lodge Lane in Grays, at around 8.30pm on Sunday May 3 when the incident happened.

She was hit from behind by a White Ford Transit van, which had the registration number MA59 XUC.

The van pushed the woman and her bike for 40 feet along the road, before she became dislodged and fell to the ground.

The driver failed to stop at the scene and fled, leaving the woman lying injured on the ground.

The van was later found in Biggin Lane, Grays where it had been abandoned and set on fire.

Paramedics took the woman to Basildon Hospital where she was treated for various injuries, thankfully none of which were life-threatening.

Officers are investigating the incident and are appealing for witnesses or anyone who knows the identity of the van driver to come forward.

Pc Mark Turner of the Chigwell Road Policing Unit said: "The van driver knew he had struck the cyclist but yet still fled the scene for only reasons he can explain. He showed total disregard for the life of this young woman.

"I would urge the van driver to come forward voluntarily. But I would also urge the community to help and if anyone is aware of who has been using this van in the Grays area we would like to hear from them urgently.”

The van driver is described as a white man, aged between 20 and 30.

Witnesses to this incident or anyone with information as to the van driver’s identity can contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.