A SECOND man has been charged in connection with the death of a former Bolton mayoress who died after being hit by a car last week.

Police were called at 12.05pm on Friday, November 13 to Chorley New Road to reports of a collision involving a black Audi and a pedestrian.

Despite the best efforts of emergency services, the pedestrian – 58-year-old Gay Wharton, who served as the town's mayor - sadly died at the scene.

Assad Hussain, 23, of Maplewood Gardens, Bolton, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving last weekend.

He appeared at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was remanded in custody to appear at Bolton Crown Court on Monday, December 14.

And now Wasim Iqbal, 23, of Chorley New Road, Bolton, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

He appeared at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court yesterday and has been remanded to next appear at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, December 17.

Grandmother Mrs Wharton was a pioneering mayoress alongside 2014 mayor Cllr Martin Donaghy and a second mayoress Jacqueline Tracey.

The trio had worked together at Sainsbury’s in Bolton town centre.

Tributes have flooded in for her since her death.

Cllr Donaghy said: “Gay was one of our in-store trainers at Sainsbury’s and she was quite reticent about the idea of being a mayoress.

“But I thought, no, she is going to be one of my mayoresses, and she really blossomed in the role.

“And she continued with that work after her year as mayoress, particularly as part of Fortalice, because she believed in what they stood for.

“She was such a caring and concerned person. I’m obviously devastated and my thoughts go out to her husband Steve and her family.”