A GRIEVING father yesterday made an emotional appeal for help in tracing the hit-and-run driver who killed his son.

Retired police officer John Brady held back tears as he asked witnesses to the crash, which left 23-year-old Paul with fatal injuries, to come forward.

Paul was killed as he cycled to work at about 7.50am on Friday.

Police believe he was struck by a heavy goods vehicle on the northbound carriageway of the A19, about 200 metres north of the Silverlink roundabout, in North Tyneside. A Cambridge University graduate, Paul was an outstanding scholar and rower.

At a press conference at North Shields police station yesterday, his father said: "Paul was a wonderful young man. He had his whole life ahead of him.

"His family and friends desperately need to know what happened. If you were there and saw something, please, please, please contact the police."

Paul's older brother, Christopher, said: "This accident has robbed our family of the fiercely intelligent, kind, principled, wonderful human being that Paul was.

"I was immensely proud of Paul. Of course, working class lads in the North-East never tell each other these things and now it's too late."

Paul, from Durham, excelled as a pupil at the city's St Leonard's RC Comprehensive School, achieving nine A* grade GCSEs and one A grade.

As a rower, he twice won double sculls gold medals at the National Club Rowing Championships.

He was halfway through a year out, working as a lab technician at George Stephenson High School, in Killingworth. He was due to start a masters degree course at Durham University in September.

Anne Welsh, headteacher at George Stephenson, said: "The staff were devastated to hear of Paul's tragic death.

"He was a very capable and reliable young man, who was a real pleasure to work with. We shall miss him greatly."

Officers investigating Paul's death believe the lorry driver may not have realised he had struck someone.

Chief Inspector Vince Stubbs, of Northumbria Police, said: "This is a tragic accident resulting in Paul losing his young life."

Anyone with information about Paul's death is asked to call the incident room at Wallsend police station, on 08456-043-043, extension 63387.