A MOTORBIKE rider drove off after a crash leaving his injured pillion passenger behind.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the collision between the motorcycle and a car in Horwich on Saturday afternoon.

The accident happened at about 3.50pm on Mansell Way and involved a blue and white Suzuki motorcycle and a Ford Escort.

The bike was travelling from Horwich towards the M61 when it was involved in collision with the back of the car. Police said that the rider and pillion passenger were thrown from the motorbike.

A passer by helped the bike rider pick the machine up but instead of attending to the pillion passenger he rode away from the scene towards the motorway.

The bike rider is described as a white male in his 20s. He was wearing a black helmet, black jacket and shorts. The motorcycle was damaged on the left hand side. The pillion passenger was slightly injured. The car driver Frank Ormrod, aged 41, from Tindall Street, Peel Green, Eccles, was uninjured.

Police have appealed for information. Anyone who has seen a motorcycle matching the description should contact Bolton Traffic Police on (0161) 856 5972.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.