An anonymous letter-writer could hold clues to the identity of a road-rage driver who hit a Mid Sussex man with his car.

The mystery writer told police he or she had spotted the offending pink or purple Ford Escort cabriolet soon after the incident.

Officers now want the author to contact them again to assist them further.

Lorry driver Carl Morgan suffered a serious hand injury after being hit by the car.

The 21-year-old was on a path when the Escort came straight at him.

Mr Morgan, who lives in Burgess Hill, smashed on to the car's bonnet, into the windscreen, over the roof and rolled to the ground.

He was left unconscious with a bruised back and broken wrist bone which cut off the blood to his left hand.

He said: "If I hadn't bent my legs and leant forward I would have been tossed into the air like a rag doll.

"That driver is fortunate he didn't kill me or someone else."

The Escort also hit Mr Morgan's 22-year-old brother-in-law, injuring his hands.

The attack happened after a crash in London Road, Brighton, in March.

Mr Morgan, who is also a swimming instructor in Burgess Hill, had spent the evening out in Brighton with friends and they were driving home.

He said: "The Escort crashed into the rear of our car. It then clipped a taxi, spinning it round, and ran a red light."

The friends caught up with the Escort at the junction of the A23 and A27 at Patcham.

Mr Morgan and his brother-in-law got out to exchange insurance details but the driver revved his engine and sped away, hitting both men before heading north towards London.

Mr Morgan was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

Inspector Julie Wakeford said: "The information from the letter writer could prove vitally important to us and I would appeal to the author to contact me again."

Anyone with information should contact Insp Wakeford on 0845 6070999.