A DOG walker seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident is thought to have been the victim of a deliberate ambush.

His attackers lay in wait and steered a four-wheel drive vehicle at him at speed as he crossed over a farm track.

Detectives think the 48-year-old may have been hit more than once by the dark-coloured vehicle.

The men then jumped out and beat him with “stick-like”

weapons – leaving their victim with a punctured lung, fractured ribs and a large cut to his head, police said.

Last night, he remained poorly but stable in hospital.

They also killed one of the five dalmatian dogs he had been taking for a walk.

The man was found a short time later, at 11.45am on Wednesday, by cyclists near the Cemex cement works, behind Thornley Station Industrial Estate, near Shotton Colliery, County Durham.

Detective Inspector Steve Chapman said: “We do not believe it was an accident. They have inflicted serious injuries on this gentleman.

“Certainly, it would appear they have gone out to run him over and cause him harm.”

The man was walking his dogs on the Haswell to Hart countryside walkway, towards Wingate, when he came to a junction with the farm track, which leads from Salter’s Lane (B1280), near Shotton Colliery.

“As he crossed the track he heard a vehicle revving in the background and the next thing he knew he had been knocked over,” said Det Insp Chapman.

“Two men then got out of the vehicle and attacked him with stick-like weapons.”

The victim had been walking five dalmatians at the time. One was on a lead and it was this dog the attackers killed, police believe deliberately.

Two cyclists on the walkway found the man stumbling back in the direction from which he had come.

Police were yesterday carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the area, as forensic specialists examined the scene.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0845-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.