TWO grieving mothers have made an emotional appeal for a key witness to come forward a year on after a road accident in which two of their sons were killed.

Karen Heathcote and Dawn Brayshaw say they will never be able to rest until the final piece of the jigsaw surrounding the deaths of Martin Cartwright and Byron Hudson is in place.

Driver Martin, aged 20, of Carwood Grove and passenger Byron, aged 18, of Brownlow Road, both Horwich, died after their car crashed into a wall in Roscoe Low Brow, Anderton, near Chorley, in the early hours of September 27 last year.

Nineteen-year-old Matthew Cartwright, Martin's brother, is still undergoing treatment for his injuries.

Byron's mother, Mrs Heathcote, and Martin's mohter, Mrs Brayshaw, are anxious to speak to the driver of a black D-registered VW Golf who stopped briefly at the scene before driving off.

Although an inquest recorded verdicts of accidental death, the two women say they cannot move on until they have spoken to the mystery man or his female passenger about what they saw.

Mrs Heathcote said: "I will never stop wondering what happened that night and I don't want to spend the rest of my life without having the final piece of the jigsaw. Forget the fact that you did not stop at the time, come forward now and tell us what you know."

The three men had enjoyed a few drinks and watched a football game at the Greenwood pub in Chorley Old Road, Horwich.

Residents living near the crash scene were awoken by a loud bang on the country road at around 2.30am.

Police made several appeals for the key witness to come forward but he never did. Officers believe he may have been too scared because he was wanted for other matters.

During the inquest, Matthew told the coroner he could not remember anything about the accident and could give no explanation as to why the car went out of control.

An investigation did reveal that Martin had a blood alcohol level of one and-a-half times the legal limit and only held a provisional driving licence. But accident investigation officer PC Richard Roberts said tyre marks at the scene did not indicate excessive speed and he found no definite reason why the car went off the road.

Mrs Heathcote, aged 41, of Lostock, said: "I still do not know what happened that night. I can not rest until I do. I feel this is our last and only chance to find out.

"According to other witnesses the Golf was travelling in the opposite direction and the driver must have seen the moment when the car crashed.

"Please do the decent thing and come forward."

Mrs Brayshaw, aged 42, of Horwich, added: "The matter is closed as far as the police investigation is concerned and an inquest has been held.

"But for us, it is not finished because there is still someone out there who saw what happened. Even if what they have to say is not very much, at least, we would know."

Anyone with information about the identity of the driver can call the Road Policing Unit at Chorley on 01257 246376.