POLICE are investigating an incident on Sunday evening, when a 69-year-old man collapsed and died in an alley way close to his home in Westleigh Place.

A post-mortem revealed that 69-year-old Edward Bowles died of a thrombosis. Police are not treating the incident as murder.

Shortly before 7.30pm Mr Bowles and his wife were getting ready to go to their local social club when Mr Bowles suddenly left the house wearing just his shirt, trousers, shoes and socks. He was found collapsed a short time later about 100 yards from his home in an alleyway that is part of a footpath leading to the Sutton Mill Brook-Sutton Mill Dam area.

A car in Westfield Place had a wheel trim missing and one of the theories police are working on is that Mr Bowles may have disturbed someone tampering with cars.

Anyone who can help police with inquiries can contact the incident room at St Helens on 0151 777 6969, the CID office on 0151 777 6064 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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