A MAN has died in hospital after suffering an apparent heart attack while driving.

The motorist, who has not been named by police, was driving his car along Stewart Street and was about to turn into Halliwell Road at 11.45am on Saturday when he fell ill.

Witnesses said a female passenger got out of the car and ran for help.

Two passing police community support officers gave the man first aid and paramedics treated him at the scene, using a defibrillator to try to revive him.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "The man was taken to hospital and his condition was described as 'very poorly'.

"He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival and a file has been passed to the coroner's office for further investigation.

"There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the man's death."

The incident took place outside the Farm Foods supermarket in Halliwell Road.

Assistant manager of the shop, Simon Armitage, said: "Shortly after it happened, a man came running into the shop and asked if anyone knew first aid.

"I do, so I came running out and saw the man unconscious at the wheel and there were two PCSOs attending to him. It was horrible to see.

"The guy who came into the shop told me that he had been in the car behind on Stewart Stewart and he knew that something was wrong when he heard the engine of the car in front revving a lot and not moving."

Mr Armitage added: "We let the police park the man's car in the supermarket car park on Saturday night while he was taken to hospital.

"The driver's daughter came into the shop on Sunday to say 'thank you'.

"We all feel very bad for her. It is a terrible thing to happen."

The details will be passed to Bolton Coroner’s Office today, and a decision will be made about whether to hold an inquest.