A MANHUNT was yesterday launched for the rider of a yellow motorcycle who hit a pedestrian in Blackburn before fleeing without stopping.

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The man, in his 60s, was left with serious head and leg injuries after the bike ploughed into him, in Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn at around 7am yesterday.

Witnesses described seeing paramedics treating the man close to Matala Grocers before loading him onto a stretcher and taking him to Royal Preston Hospital.

A police spokeswoman said the biker who was riding a yellow motorcycle, also rammed into a parked Volkswagen Golf,.

She said officers who were investigating were looking into the possibility that the man may have been riding a trial bike.

The hit-and-run came just hours after the launch of Brake's Road Safety Week.

The number of 'selfish drivers' in East Lancashire was highlighted by the charity ahead of its week-long Look Out For Each Other campaign.

Almost 10,000 motorists were fined for careless driving or breaking the speed limit last year, figures revealed.

The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust backed the campaign, and took to social media site Twitter to tweet about yesterday's incident in a bid to raise awareness.

They read: "A pedestrian was injured in Blackburn after being hit by a motorbike. An ambulance responded and then took the patient who had a head injury to Royal Preston Hospital. #RoadSafetyWeek"

The organisation is urging the public to take Brake’s pledge to do to do simple things to protect themselves and people around them, which includes driving slower, not getting in a car with anyone under the influence of drink or drugs, and never making calls or texts whilst driving.

The police spokeswoman said: "If anybody witnessed the collision, or saw a yellow motorbike travelling at speed in the area, they can call us on 101 quoting reference number 123 or November 17.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org. Information can be given anonymously, details are not traced, and informants will not be required to go to court.