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Caught on video: The moment a hit-and-run pensioner was left for dead in the road

Shocking CCTV footage shows the horrifying moment a pensioner was knocked down by a van and left for dead in the middle of a road.

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John Rudge, 78, had just left the Spar shop in Bilston Street, Sedgley when he was struck by a white Renault Kangoo van.

A video from the store shows the driver and a male passenger waiting at the scene before speeding off down Queens Road.

John Rudge with his devoted dog Charlie

Bystanders rush to Mr Rudge's aid as he lies stricken in the street.

West Midlands Police spokesman Billy Corrigan said yesterday Mr Rudge was now in a stable condition.

The pensioner was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after the sickening incident on Thursday.

Janet Ash, his cousin, urged the two men in the van to hand themselves in to police.

The 71-year-old said: "He's got bruising all down his arms and legs, and a big swelling on his head and over his eye.

"I rushed to see him as soon as my neighbour told me and I went in the ambulance with him to the hospital.

A Renault Kangoo van

"The two young men who did this need to give themselves up and go the police, it is very serious what they have done.

"They should have stopped, they left my cousin for dead.

"What if he was a child? They must have no feelings. It's disgusting."

Carol Johnson, 68, has been Ms Ash's friend for six decades, and they are neighbours on Gibbons Hill Road.

She said: "What happened was dreadful.

"John is a real character in Sedgley, he's well known for walking his dog Charlie around here.

"Everybody knows him and I think that's what has made so many people take notice of this.

"Hopefully they can find the people who were driving."

Mr Rudge had been shopping at the store at around 3.30pm on Thursday when he was hit by the van.

Spar store manager Rav Singh said Mr Rudge was a regular customer and a familiar face around the area.

He said: "All our staff wish him a full recovery."

One witness told of the horrible moment she saw Mr Rudge 'tossed into the air' after he was hit by the van.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: "I came out of the shop and saw John about to cross the road.

"He was looking both left and right and it was clear.

"Suddenly a white van came speeding out of Beacon Lane and turned right, straight into John.

"They tossed him into the air, it was horrible.

"The van slowed down and I saw one of them look in the rear view mirror. Then he looked away and just sped off.

"I ran over to John in shock. I thought he was dead. There was blood all over him."

Abbie Bottley, 15, lives next door to Mr Rudge and described him as 'very talkative' and 'really nice'.

She said: "I go in and talk to him everyday after I walk Charlie. I was actually walking Charlie when this happened.

"Mum and dad came running out and said: 'Take Charlie home, John's been hit.'

"I tried to leave Charlie at home, but he kept pining for John so I took him over and he slept in my bed last night.

"Whoever did this is disgusting. Who hits an old man and drives away?"

Police have launched a manhunt and are scouring CCTV for clues in a bid to trace both the driver and passenger.

The men seen in the van are described as white, believed to be in their 20s, and were each wearing high-visibility orange vests.

The vehicle was missing two wheel trims - one from the rear passenger side and also the front driver's side - and had a large custom-fitted lock on the rear doors.

Pc Leon Whitmore, of West Midlands Police's traffic unit, called for the driver and the passenger to show 'courage' and contact the police to explain what had happened.

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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