DETECTIVES have been brought in to the hunt in East London for a car driver police believe may have deliberately targeted a pedestrian crossing the road and then sped away. They are looking for the owner of a silver car with blacked out windows and alloy wheels, possibly a Ford Focus, which failed to stop after hitting the man

DETECTIVES have been brought in to the hunt in East London for a car driver police believe may have deliberately targeted a pedestrian crossing the road and then sped away from the scene.

They are looking for the owner of a silver car with blacked out windows and alloy wheels, possibly a Ford Focus, which failed to stop after hitting the man.

The pedestrian was crossing Trinity-street in Canning Town at 12.55am on Wednesday (July 30), when he was struck at the corner of Vincent-street.

CID officers at Plaistow have now taken over the investigation, Scotland Yard has confirmed this evening.

A spokesman said: "One line of enquiry we're following is that the collision was caused intentionally by the car driver."

The badly-injured man is in an East London hospital. His condition is described as serious, but stable.

Police aren't saying which hospital, for security.

Detectives are appealing for anyone who was in Vincent-street or Trinity-street at about 1am on Wednesday (July 30), or has information, to call Plaistow CID on 020-7275 5851, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.