A 78-YEAR-OLD man died after crashing into a parked car and careering into a garden wall in Bradshaw.

The pensioner, who has not been named, was driving a Suzuki Grand Vitara when he crashed into a Seat Ibiza and ricocheted into the wall in Bradshaw Road.

Paramedics took him to the Royal Bolton Hospital following the accident just after midnight on Monday morning, where he later died.

Police were called to the crash site, at the junction with The Coppice, and are now investigating how the accident happened.

A police spokesman said early indications were that the driver had suffered a "medical episode" at the wheel and lost control of the car.

A post-mortem examination was due to be carried out on Monday to establish the cause of death.

The emergency services have put sand in the road close to the wall, indicating that some petrol or oil had leaked from the car.

The man's family live close to the crash site, but did not wish to speak to The Bolton News when asked for a comment.

Nobody else was hurt.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said he initially thought the crash was "fireworks". He said: "We had just heard the church bells so knew it was late. My first thought was fireworks but it somehow sounded too solid, and was not lasting.

"It sounded like a lot of emergency service vehicles were here. We did not see what had happened until the next morning."

A police spokesman said: "Officer found a Suzuki Grand Vitara had first collided with a parked, unattended Seat Ibiza, and then collided with a garden wall on Bradshaw Road. The driver, a 78-year-old man, was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital where he later died as a result of his injuries."

Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision to call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4742.