AN appeal board asking for witnesses to a fatal hit and run accident has been stolen.

Derek Crane, aged 55, from Leigh, died in hospital on Monday after his Ford Escort was in collision with a Nissan Bluebird in Wigan Road, Wigan, in late July.

Following Mr Crane's death police put up a board asking for witnesses to come forward after the driver of the second car ran from the scene.

The board was chained and padlocked to a lamp post, but police said today that someone had cut through the chains and stole the board.

Inspector Andy Eckersley, from Leigh Traffic unit, said: "By stealing the board, the thieves could be depriving the investigation of vital witnesses."

The accident happened at 7.30pm on Monday, July 29, in Wigan Road, at its junction with Browning Street.

Anyone with information about the accident, or the driver of the Nissan, is asked to contact Leigh traffic unit on 0161 856 7273/4.

I don't know why anyone would want to steal an accident appeal board.

"We are still trying to trace the driver of the Nissan, and we also would like to speak to any witnesses who saw the accident, but who may not have realised how serious it was.

" They may have thought it clever or amusing, but we are dealing with a fatal road accident.