A YOUNG father was killed by a hit-and-run driver just seven weeks before he was due to be married.

Lee Rickwood died when he was hit by a Mercedes van.

Mr Rickwood, 28, who has an eight-month-old daughter, was cycling from work and was just minutes from home when he was struck head-on by the van as it overtook a bus.

The warehouseman suffered multiple injuries.

He was rushed to Newcastle General Hospital but doctors were unable to save him.

The accident happened at 5.50pm on Friday as Mr Rickwood made his way home from Gateshead's Team Valley trading estate to his home in Newburn, Newcastle.

As he cycled along the single carriage road a van pulled out from behind a bus travelling in the opposite direction and hit him head-on.

The driver and his occupant made off without stopping and the van was found abandoned a mile away.

Police said they had used the registration of the van in an attempt to trace the owner, but the person traced had recently sold the vehicle.

Mr Rickwood was due to marry on June 23.

Detectives are appealing for help to trace the driver.