A POLICE hunt was taking place in Bradford last night for two men who fled a hit-and-run crash which left a pensioner on a mobility scooter fatally injured in the road.

The victim, a man in his 70s, known in the area by his nickname Mickey Mack, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash involving a black Seat Leon in Leeds Road, Laisterdyke.

Witnesses reported seeing two young Asian men get out of the car and run off.

Police confirmed they were hunting for two men.

The car was said by witnesses to have been travelling at high-speed when it ploughed into the pensioner at about 12.45pm yesterday.

His mobility scooter was embedded into the front of the car, which had a large dent in the bonnet and a smashed windscreen.

The car and the scooter ended up about 20ft away from the traffic island-crossing where the impact occurred.

The pensioner was flung a further 15ft away and the seat of his scooter ended against a kerb nearby.

He had left the nearby New Virginia Tavern in Rushton Road about 20 minutes before the crash, which took place near the junction with Thornbury Avenue.

Drinkers in the pub were shocked and angry at the news of his death.

Barry Ayres, who said he had known for more than 30 years, said: "He was a sound guy. He would do anything for you.

"I feel sick and really annoyed. He was in here 20 minutes beforehand."

Another, who did not want to be named, said: "They want to catch those who did it and shoot them."

Mr Ayres said his friend was originally from Ireland, but had also lived in Manningham. He said the former builder and plasterer could not walk and had swollen legs.

Mr Ayres added: "You could not meet a nicer bloke."

Another said: "He was here one minute and the thing you know he is dead."

Pub landlord Noel Kinsella said the pensioner drank John Smith's bitter and also sometimes enjoyed a whisky. Mr Kinsella, who said he and his wife saw him lying in the road after the crash, added: "He came in about four times a week. He was a right jolly fella. He was lovely.

"He had his favourite chair. It will be a sadder place without him."

The pensioner, who last night had not been named by police, is believed to have lived at nearby Derby Place.

Riaz Ahmed, a former Bradford councillor who runs the Orange Tree shop which overlooks the scene, said the car was "coming at a very fast speed".

He knew the victim as someone who visited his shop, and added: "He was suffering various ailments but was a very bubbly character.

"It is a tragedy that seems to happen too often. It is about time we had speed cameras on this road. It is a very busy road."

Yasser Qureshi said: "We were in the mosque. This happened just as everyone was going to mosque. Word got around straight away.

"It is awful. It was shocking, more than anything."

Another man described hearing the sound of a "gear dropping" slightly before a loud bang.

He added: "There were two lads seen. One ran away straight away, one stayed around. Locals said grab him but then he ran away.

"Everyone knows the man as the man with the mobility scooter. He crosses the road there a lot. He was a big chap with white hair who went to Morrisons a lot."

Tahir Din, who works at the Post Office only yards from the scene, said: "He used to come in here. He was a very nice person. His family is in Ireland, I think.

"He lost his wallet recently, but he wasn't bothered about the money in there, he was worried because photographs of his grandchildren were in there. He was a nice guy."

Of the crash, Mr Din said: "They were going really fast. They hit him really hard, at about 70 or 80mph."

Councillor Faisal Khan (Ind, Bradford Moor) had just arrived home when the incident happened and went to the scene.

Visibly in shock, Cllr Khan said: "They were trying to resuscitate him. You could see the shock on people's faces. Ambulance crews were trying to resuscitate him.

Rifat Malik, who works at Patel and Bhatoa solicitors, also close by the crash, said: "It is horrible, shocking.

"We have seen the man around on his mobility scooter and he always says 'hi' to everyone and waves. It is such a shame."

Police have urged anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact the Major Collision Enquiry Team at West Yorkshire Police on 101.

* It was the second crash in Leeds Road yesterday. Firefighters freed two people trapped after a collision involving three vehicles near Bradford fire station shortly before 11am. It involved a Citroen van, a Volkswagen Bora, and a Kia Cerato.