POLICE are hunting the driver of a mystery car involved in a hit-and-run accident which left a pensioner fighting for his life.

Robert Holden, 68, of Royds Street, Accrington, was today in the intensive care unit at Blackburn Royal Infirmary with serious head and leg injuries.

The retired labourer had been leaving Poplar Working Men's Club, Wellington Street, Accrington, when he was hit by the car - possibly a taxi - in front of shocked revellers at 2am on New Year's Day.

Police say the vehicle, which had one person inside, slowed down before driving off towards Accrington town centre.

People leaving the club watched paramedics giving emergency treatment to Mr Holden as he lay unconscious in the road.

He was taken to hospital and underwent emergency surgery before being transferred to the intensive care unit. His condition was today described as "poorly."

Paramedic Stephen Scholey, of Altham ambulance, said: "When we found him he had a nasty head injury and was unconscious. He also had multiple fractures to his right leg and possible fractures to his other leg. "We put him on a drip and gave him oxygen. We managed to stabilise him and he was attempting to talk as we took him to hospital."

His brother, William Holden, 67, who lives with him in Royds Street, said: "He had gone out for New Year and I had an early night. The first I knew anything was wrong was when I got up in the morning and he wasn't in the house.

"He usually leaves his shoes near the fire, but they weren't there.

"It has been a real shock. We have shared a house all our lives and are pretty close."

Mr Holden had been celebrating the New Year in the working men's club where he is a member.

Club steward Ronnie Power said: "A couple passing the club ran in and asked me to call an ambulance after seeing him knocked down.

"The dancing had just finished and everyone was leaving the club when the accident happened. I had been speaking to Mr Holden earlier in the night and he had been enjoying himself.

"He is a seven-nights a week man at the club and has been a member for at least 20 years."

Mr Holden, who has lived in the Accrington area all his life, is not married and has two other brothers, George, 69, of Haslingden, and Alan, 57, of Baxenden.

He is also a regular at the Canine Club, Accrington, and is a keen snooker player.

A police spokesman said: "Witnesses described seeing a dark-coloured Vauxhall Cavalier-type saloon car with either a J, K or L registration.

"They said the car had a sign on top similar to a hackney cab. We are still appealing for witnesses."

Police blocked a stretch of the road off for more than nine hours to carry out investigations.

Anyone with information should contact Accrington Police on 01254 382141.

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