A MAN from Bury died after trying to jump into a car being carried on the back of a moving tow truck.

Mystery surrounds why Wakas Ali attempted to get to the Vauxhall Astra, which had loaded on to the truck after earlier being abandoned in Shepherd Street, Bury, following a police pursuit on Friday night.

The 21-year-old slipped off the back of the truck and died the following day from severe head injuries.

According to police, the abandoned Astra was placed on a recovery lorry and was being driven to a storage compound at 7pm on Friday when the driver saw two Vauxhall Vectra cars following him.

One pulled in front of the lorry, causing it to slow down at the junction of Manchester Road and Bury New Road in Ramsbottom.

Mr Ali then ran alongside the truck before leaping on to its trailer and attempting to get into the locked Astra.

After he fell he was picked up by the occupants of one of the Vectras who abandoned him at Fairfield General Hospital.

Mr Ali, of Somerset Drive, Bury, was transferred to Hope Hospital where he died on Saturday morning.

Mr Ali's parents and wife, who all live in Somerset Drive, were too upset to comment.

Now, police investigating Mr Ali's death want to hear from motorists who witnessed the accident or saw a black or silver 06' Vauxhall Vectra either following the recovery vehicle or driving erratically from the scene to contact the Area 2 Road Policing Unit on 0161 856 3572.