Adrian Smith is in a stable condition in Royal Preston Hospital

This is the face of a cyclist ‘left for dead’ by a driver in Preston.

Adrian Smith was cycling home from work on Friday afternoon to his family home in Longridge when he came off his bike.

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His wife Ruth Smith has launched an appeal to trace the driver responsible as she claims police are ‘too stretched’ to issue an appeal.

Adrian was making his way along Ribbleton Lane at 3.10pm when a white Golf cut across his path at the junction with Andrew Street.

The civil servant, who has been cycling for around two and a half years, was sent across the bonnet before tumbling into the road and his bike sent flying into a mangled heap.

The driver of the Golf did not stop.

Staff from nearby Nicola Draper’s hair salon came to Mr Smith’s aid while they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

Ruth, 45, said: “He’s lucky to be alive. I am still shocked by what happened.

“The ambulance crews were fantastic and got him to Royal Preston where he’s being looked after.

“The car has just come across him with no regard for him at all. He was left for dead.”

Adrian’s face on the Friday evening after the incident

Adrian, who lives in Longridge, was left with a broken nose, a fractured wrist and bruising all over his body. He has also lost five or six teeth.

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His wife and children have been attending to him in hospital where he has undergone an operation during Saturday morning.

Ruth said: “He is struggling to breath but I am hoping they will let us get him home tonight.

“I am staggered someone could do this. I know the driver thinks they will be in trouble but they have to come forward after doing something like this. I don’t know whether it was drink or drugs or what.”

Adrian, 43, with his son on a family holiday

She has been critical of the response from Lancashire Police, saying it was four hours before they responded.

Ruth said: “I spoke to an officer around 7pm and she said they are very stretched. She’s now not back on shift until Tuesday so they won’t do anything.

“So I’m having to take matters into my own hands to find the person who did this to my husband.

“I would like to praise the staff at the hair salon. I have sent some flowers over to them this morning as they waited with him while the ambulance arrived and made sure he was okay. I cannot thank them enough. And the hospital staff at RPH have been brilliant too.”

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Witnesses at the scene said the car was a silver Golf and the registration began with PE14.

Anyone with information is urged to call the police on 101 quoting reference 0875.