This bruised and battered face tells the shocking tale of a cyclist injured in a hit-and-run accident in Southend.

Brave Brian Lawrence agreed to have his badly injured face pictured in a bid to encourage public help to trace the driver involved in the collision.

Police were today stepping up their search for the driver.

Mr Lawrence, 61, of Hamstel Road, Southend, needed more than 40 stitches to gashes on his head and face following the road smash which left him bruised and bleeding on a busy Southend roundabout.

He said: "It is a gruesome sight I know, but hopefully this will help to jog people's memories."

Mr Lawrence was involved in the accident on Tuesday morning as he cycled home from a physiotherapy session at Southend Hospital.

His bike collided with a dark-coloured family-sized saloon car at Porters Grange roundabout, close to its junction with Queensway and Southchurch Road, at 10.20am.

Horrified motorists alerted paramedics after seeing Mr Lawrence thrown from his bike by the impact of the collision.

He was rushed to Southend Hospital where he received emergency treatment for a number of head injuries.

Mr Lawrence said: "I have been cycling now for around 50 years - you never think anything like this will happen to you."

If you can help call PC Geoff Howell at Rayleigh traffic police on 01268 775533.

Victim - a hit-and-run driver did this to Brian Lawrence

Picture: ANDY PALMER

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