THE niece of tragic cyclist Gorden Kay - victim of a hit-and-run - has written a moving tribute to her uncle in a bid to help trace the driver involved.

Vikki Kay has laid bare her feelings for the father-of-seven in a letter, which sits among floral tributes at the scene of the accident.

Mr Kay, aged 34, was found seriously injured at the side of Manchester Road, Moses Gate, after being knocked off his bike on October 30.

He died later in hospital.

The crane driver and his wife, Shirley, of Grosvenor Street, Kearsley, had five children together - Jessica, aged nine; Liam, aged seven; Amy, aged five; Megan, aged three; and Adam, aged one.

Mrs Kay is expecting the couple's sixth child, who will be named Jodie Gorden Kay in memory of the father she will never know.

Mr Kay had two more children - Johnathon, aged 13, and Shannon, aged 11 - from a previous relationship.

In her tribute, Vikki, aged 17, writes: "Each day that goes by gets harder and harder.

"I could never picture my life without you and now I have to.

"I have so many memories of you it's unreal. You were always the one who would cheer me up if I was down.

"It just doesn't seem real that you aren't coming home now. Life's just not going to be the same.

"I'm going to miss so much about you and I really don't know how I'm going to cope with life."

Det Insp Simon Davies, who is leading the hunt for the hit-and-run driver, said: "I'm sure that the driver will have confided in somebody; perhaps a family member or close friend.

"Everybody has a conscience and I think whoever did this will have found it very difficult to keep it to themselves.

"There are seven children without a father and I would urge anybody with information to get in touch."

Anybody with information can contact police on 0161 856 5740 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.