A hit and run driver ‘deliberately targeted’ a pedestrian outside a nightclub, leaving him with serious head injuries.

The 31-year-old victim was walking along Whitehorse Lane with his friends at about 3.10am on Sunday, after leaving Crystals nightclub, when a car drove at speed behind them and mounted the pavement.

This car then hit the victim before driving off in the direction of South Norwood Hill.

Emergency services were called and the injured man was taken to a south London hospital where he remains in a stable condition, with potentially life changing head injuries.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Lorna Sillett said: "It would appear that the car deliberately targeted this group and enquiries are on-going to locate the person and vehicle responsible. "I would like to appeal to anyone who may have been in the area at the time to contact police.

"We would also like to trace a dark coloured BMW that was in the area at the time, as we believe that the occupants of this vehicle may have witnessed the incident."

Anyone with information is asked to call Croydon CID on 020 3276 2264 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.