A FRAIL Ipswich pensioner fought back the tears today as he relived the hit-and-run smash that sent him flying off his mobility scooter.Speaking from the hospital bed where he has been for weeks, 79-year-old Russell Newlands made a heart-felt plea for people to come forward with any information that may help catch the driver who failed to stop.

A FRAIL Ipswich pensioner fought back the tears today as he relived the hit-and-run smash that sent him flying off his mobility scooter.

Speaking from the hospital bed where he has been for weeks, 79-year-old Russell Newlands made a heart-felt plea for people to come forward with any information that may help catch the driver who failed to stop.

Mr Newlands, who suffers from arthritis and relies on his 4mph scooter to get out and about, was crossing the road when involved in the collision.

Suffering from a fractured right leg, he has been in Ipswich Hospital since the accident happened almost a month ago.

Mr Newlands, of Richmond Road, said: “I used the scooter to take me up town and back or to do a bit of shopping or to go up to Christchurch Park when it's nice weather.”

At the time of the accident, he was on his way back from town at a crossing in Norwich Road.

Mr Newlands, who is still hoping he will be back home with his wife Jean in time for Christmas, wept as he said: “I am lucky it didn't kill me.”

He added: “I have trouble remembering anything about it but it didn't help my legs much, did it?

“The driver never stopped, just carried on going.

“Of course I would like the person who did this to be caught. They should be put inside for ten years. But they will never catch them.

“The person knows damn well what he or she has done. They should have stopped their car and helped me - I am coming up to 80!”

Mr Newlands said he could walk a bit before the accident, but now struggles to get on his feet.

He said: “Naturally I am upset. It's a job to keep myself together. I've been feeling down since the accident. It's been rotten. I was quite all right before but I have felt muddled since the accident.”

Mrs Newlands, 76, added: “He is terribly shaken and upset. For several days, he didn't really know what had happened - he was in shock.”

She hopes that the badly damaged £3,000 scooter can be repaired or replaced.

A police spokeswoman said the collision, which is believed to have involved a J-registration car, took place at about 1.20pm on November 23 at the junction of Norwich Road and Sherrington Road.

Anybody with information should call Suffolk police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Do you have a message of support for Mr Newlands? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk