A FATHER who was knocked down in a hit-and-run could not remember his children, a heartbroken wife has revealed.

Michael Ward, aged 28, is still in hospital after the horrific incident which happened in Manchester city centre in August last year.

He is only now beginning to regain his memory, but he remembers nothing about what happened on the night of the incident.

He and wife Maryrose, aged 27, have three children, Montana aged five, Crystal, aged two, and Michael, aged eight months.

Mrs Ward said: “The baby was only two months old when this happened. At first he did not remember the children. Now he can remember Montana.

“He knows he has other children but is still a bit funny about that. I take them in at the weekends to see him.”

Mr Ward has been left permanently brain damaged and is unable to walk or talk.

Mrs Ward said: “He is making progress. He needs a lot of physiotherapy. He is in the process of standing at the moment and we’ll see how that goes.

“We are hoping that one day he will be able to walk again. We cannot really understand what he is saying — his speech is mumbled and he will need a speech therapist.

“We just have to try and get through it. It is amazing he is alive from what the doctors have said.

“We know he will be in hospital for a long time but we don’t know how long.”

The couple have lived at Crompton Lodge Caravan Park in Hall Lane, Moses Gate, for two-and-a-half years after moving from Ireland. After the incident Mr Ward thought he still lived in Ireland.

Mrs Ward is now hoping someone can help identify the driver who hit him.

Police have released shocking CCTV footage of the incident in John Dalton Street in Manchester.

Mr Ward was crossing the road at about 2.30am on August 21 with two friends when a silver Vauxhall Corsa ploughed into them and drove off.

Two other two men were also hurt — a 30-year-old man was left with a broken leg while a 32-year-old man escaped with minor injuries.

Police have arrested five men and a woman, who have been released on bail.

Anyone with information can call police on 0161 8563521, 0161 8564288 or 0161 8563502, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.