A MAN who was left fighting for life after a ‘tragic accident’ in Clayton-le-Moors at the weekend has died, police said.

Paul Hart was cut free from the wreckage of the Fiat Stilo car after it collided with a small roundabout outside All Saints Church near to Mercer Park in Grange Street at around 8.20pm on Saturday.

The 49-year-old died on Wednesday, police said.

It’s believed that he may have suffered a heart attack at the wheel.

Police said the blue car was travelling along a left-hand bend from Grange Street on to Church Street when it collided with a lamppost and railings forming a small roundabout.

A passenger was taken to Royal Preston Hospital but his injuries were not thought to be life threatening.

Clayton-le-Moors Cllr Tim O’Kane, who knew Mr Hart, said: “This news is very sad and it was a tragic accident.

“It’s very sad that it happened in the shadow of a church and the whole community were shocked by what happened last weekend.

“We have never had a fatality at that spot before but now that we has been one we will have to consider extra safety measures.

“It has never been considered to be a dangerous area.”

Officers closed the road for four hours on Saturday as firefighters fought to free the pair from the wreckage and investigators gathered clues.

A spokeswoman for the police said that the investigation was still on-going and that the family were in contacts with officers. She couldn’t confirm if the passenger was still in hospital recovering from his injuries.