A BUILDER has been told he may never work again after he was mown down in a hit-and-run and left needing a wheelchair.

Raynor Howcroft is desperate for the driver who left him for dead in the middle of Spa Road last month to be brought to justice.

Mr Howcroft, aged 31, had 12 hours of surgery before he came round, and has no memory of the incident on August 10.

Doctors told him he was lucky to be alive.

He was knocked unconscious by the impact, and suffered a broken tibia and fibula, as well as injuries to his right hand and a punctured lung.

He now faces two more operations — with surgeons set to use bone from his little toe to save one of his fingers.

Doctors have warned him his finger might have to be amputated, and that the injuries to the right side of his body are so severe he may never be able to grip tools or climb ladders again.

But the builder has even said he is glad it was him that was run over — rather than a child coming out of nearby Bolton Lads and Girls Club.

Mr Howcroft was just half a mile from his home in Park Road, Heaton, when the car hit him at about 11.15pm.

He said: "I cannot remember most of the week before and I couldn't remember where I was or what I was doing at the time.

"I woke up in hospital the next day and the last thing I could recall was getting ready for work a few days earlier.

"I am lucky to be alive. One of the doctors told me there was a time when I was in intensive care when my life was in danger.

"I've been told I'll never be able to climb a ladder again, and I might never get the grip back in my right hand, so I won't be able to use my tools.

"My leg was so badly broken, that I could have lost it altogether, if the pins they put in did not work."

He had earlier gone to the Balmoral pub for a drink with a friend, then accompanied him to a taxi rank.

Mr Howcroft believes he then decided to walk the short distance home as there was a queue for a taxi.

He added: "What this person did was wrong. One way of looking at it is I'm glad it was me and not a child coming out of Bolton Lads and Girls Club.

"They were coming out just a few minutes before it happened.

"It is upsetting that the police have not been able to find the person yet.

"I've been told I'll never be able to climb ladders again and I'll be lucky if I can grip with my right hand again.

"I've no idea what I will do if that is the case."

No arrests have been made. Police believe the car involved was a red Nissan Note.

Officers have checked the corresponding vehicles in Bolton, and believe the driver might have been from out of town.

PC Paul Terry said: “At the moment, we do not have any witnesses or CCTV to the collision and are keen for anyone who saw what happened to call us as soon as possible.

"An investigation is ongoing and we will follow up any lead that comes our way."

Anyone with information should call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 8564741 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.