AN attacker in a car ran down his victim, punched him, then reversed the car back over him.

The unnamed victim of the vicious attack on the outskirts of Bolton town centre in the early hours of yesterday morning was pinned to the ground with his leg under the wheels of the car while the driver got out and punched him in the face.

The driver then climbed back into the car, drove forwards, and reversed the Renault hatchback over the man.

A friend heard the victim’s screams and raced to help. He found him in Back Blackbank Street and took him to the Royal Bolton Hospital at 3am.

Police revealed that an investigation in the street yesterday is in connection with a man’s serious leg injury.

The scene, at the rear of Total Fitness, was cordoned off and CID and forensics officers were examining a vehicle found there.

Police say they were called to the Royal Bolton Hospital at 3am yesterday after reports that a man had turned up at the accident and emergency department with a serious leg injury following a collision.

“He remains in hospital and inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing,” said a police spokesman.

A friend of the victim, who did not wish to be named, said: “The driver was trying to kill the guy. He reversed the car over him.

“It started outside KFC. The driver was hitting his shin with the car. The car was coming fast and was hitting his leg”

He said when the man lay on the ground, pinned under the wheel of the car, the driver got out and hit the victim in the face.

“Then he reversed the car on him again,” he said.

Yesterday forensics officers were inspecting a blue Renault that had mounted the pavement at the rear of Valley Tyres, next to Total Fitness in Waters Meeting Road.

The area backs on to Longcliffe Walk, a Contour Homes rented housing scheme for the over-50s.

One resident said: “It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s something serious. This is a bad area. You get people parking up there at all hours, drinking and selling things to each other.”

He added: “A few months ago someone stole the registration plate from a disabled car in broad daylight. They put up CCTV cameras so that should help the police with what went on last night.”

Another resident said she went out for a cigarette at 6.30am and the cordons were already in place.

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call police, quoting log number 334 of 28/05/18, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.