An elderly man was critically injured after being hit by a vehicle whose driver kept on going, the police said.

The accident took place in Censu Decandia, Luqa, on Tuesday at 5.30am.

The man, aged 85, of Luqa, was given first assistance on site before being taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Two cars which were parked on the side of the road, a Daihatsu Terios and a Mazda Demio, were damaged in the incident.

The police later said that investigations led them to the driver of the car involved in the accident.

He is a Spanish man, aged 26. The car, a Nissan, was located in Council of Europe Street.

The police said the Spaniard was arrested for questioning.

Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech is leading an inquiry.