DETECTIVES investigating a hit-and-run accident in which a 22-year-old man was left dying in the road have charged a man, police revealed today.

Robert Huyton, aged 22, was lying in the road being attended by a friend when he was hit by a Vauxhall Astra van in Cross Street, Atherton, early on Saturday.

Two men got out of the van to remove Mr Huyton from under the wheels before driving away, a police spokesman said.

Mr Huyton suffered head, chest and leg injuries and later died at the Royal Bolton Hospital. The van was later found burnt out in Bolton.

Police today said a 33-year-old man had been charged over the incident and was due to appear before magistrates next week.

Simon Christopher Baxter, of Atherton, will appear at Wigan Magistrates Court on Monday, November 5, charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

He is also charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident, failing to report an accident and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

A second man arrested in connection with the incident has since been released without charge.