POLICE today said that speed was thought to be the cause of an accident in which two men died when their car hit a tree on a notorious stretch of road.

But officers are still appealing for witnesses to come forward as they attempt to piece together exactly had happened on the A675 Bolton Road at Tockholes, two miles before Abbey Village, yesterday morning.

Saab 900 convertible driver Munir Ahmed Miyaja, 31, of Way Farm Drive, Bolton, and his passenger Sabir Vohra, 25, were pronounced dead at the scene after the collision left their car horrifically crushed.

The crash was the latest in a series of smashes on the stretch of road.

Last month, villagers called on motorists to cut their speed after five serious accidents in a month.

And yesterday's crash happened 50 yards from where a car overturned in the last incident a few weeks ago.

The speed limit on the stretch is in the process of being reduced from 60mph into 50mph, a move which will be backed by mobile speed camera enforcement.

It is the latest measure to curb speeders on the road.

In the past few years, electronic signs telling drivers their speed, white lines painted on the road to keep motorists to the right and mobile speed cameras have all been tried.

Sgt Stuart Isherwood, of the Eastern Division's road policing unit, said of the latest crash: "The car was very, very severely damaged. I can probably say that speed was involved in the collision.

"It appears the car was driving towards Abbey Village and has come off a right-hand bend and left the road, crashing into the tree.

"We would like to hear from any witnesses because we don't appear to have any at the moment. Anyone who saw the black Saab 900 before the accident should get in touch with us."

Call the road policing unit on 01254 353767.