POLICE have launched an investigation after a passenger died when he was dragged under a bus on the Oldhams Estate in Astley Bridge.

Delroy Finney, aged 46 of Oldhams Terrace, died on Athlone Avenue after an accident that is thought to have happened as he was getting off a bus at about 2pm on Friday.

Residents said Mr Finney, who is thought to have been a passenger on the Arriva 534 bus, tripped as he was getting off and was then dragged under the vehicle and through the Oldhams Estate.

Police closed off the roads surrounding the accident to cars and pedestrians for six hours on Friday while they combed the area for clues.

Lucia Bogart was one of the residents waiting to get through the police cordon in Athlone Avenue to get home, and described Mr Finney as 'quiet and no trouble'.

She said: "It's very sad.

"We think he was dragged along the bus, after he stepped off and fell.

"They swing around the corner - it really needs a mirror.

"There's usually cars on both sides, and it's hard to see - maybe because they're going up a hill they don't slow down, they just keep going."

Senior investigating officer Sergeant Lee Westhead from the serious collisions unit said they are now looking into the event around Mr Finney's death.

He added: "Our thoughts are with his family, who are being supported at this tragic time by one of our family liaison officers.

"If anyone saw the collision, or saw Mr Finney before the collision, they should contact police.”

A spokesman for the North West Ambulance Service said an ambulance and air ambulance were sent to the scene at 2.06pm, while police received the call at 2.10pm.

An Arriva spokesman said: “We can confirm an incident has taken place involving one of our buses on service 534 at approximately 2pm on Friday."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the serious collision investigation unit on 0161 856 64741.