DETECTIVES were on Tuesday trying to piece together the final hours of a Bolton man found dead in a remote lay-by.

The driver of a car parked on the A56 at Hapton, near Burnley, said Mohammed Asghar, aged 55, of Alder Street, Great Lever, had died in the front passenger seat.

Paramedics were called to the scene at about 2.30pm on Sunday.

They found Mr Asghar, a father-of-one, on the ground beside a white Toyota Corolla car, registration K520 XPB with the driver and a number of other motorists and passer-bys trying to resuscitate him.

Police are looking at the possibility that Mr Asghar either died of a heart attack -- or as a result of a head injury after a road accident.

Detectives are appealing for help from the public in a bid to establish just what happened.

The Toyota had suffered damage which was consistent with a crash. Officers say a nearby roundabout at the sliproad off junction nine of the M65 had also been damaged and police are still trying to find out if the two are connected.

The driver of the car was from Nelson and has been arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving. He was questioned and released on police bail.

A post mortem examination on Mr Asghar was being carried out today.

Widower Mr Asghar is believed to have moved to Bolton from Nelson around three months ago. His family still live in Nelson. His 25-year-old son lives and works in Germany but is believed to have now flown back to England.

Today, a close friend of Mr Asghar spoke of his shock at hearing news of the death in a phone call from a mutual friend.

He said: "He was a very nice person. He would not harm a fly and was a gentle soul. It has come as a great shock to all of us."

Mr Asghar's family were due to travel over to Bolton from Nelson today, the friend added.

Police are anxious to speak to anyone who saw the Toyota in the Nelson area on Saturday night, on the west-bound carriageway of the M65 or parked in the lay-by.

They were particularly keen to contact a motorist who called police at about 11.20pm on Saturday after seeing the car on the motorway.

Det Insp Dermot Horrigan, of Burnley police, said: "We believe Mr Asghar may have been involved in a road accident because of the damage to the car but we are still investigating."

Anyone with information is asked to call Det Insp Horrigan on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555 111.