DETECTIVES believe that a 52-year-old man who was allegedly mown down by a car close to his home was known to the driver.

Police were called to Scott Avenue in Whiston at around 9am this morning (Tuesday, December 17) following reports that a man was in collision with a silver Renault Megane.

The  man - who neighbours said had just returned from taking his son to school - died at the scene.

One line of enquiry police are investigating is that the car was deliberately driven at the victim.

A Home Office post mortem will take place to establish the exact cause of death. His next of kin have been informed but he is yet to be formally identified.

A section of Scott Avenue remains cordoned off for forensic examination and collision investigators have also been at the scene.

Police have seized a Renault Megane and are asking for people with CCTV of the area to come forward.

Detectives are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or who saw a silver car in the area to contact them on 0151 777 6570, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A 33-year-old man from the Whiston area has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody where he will be questioned.

Meanwhile, a neighbour has described the moments he rushed to the aid of the man who lay dying on the quiet street.

The neighbour, who spoke to the Star, said: “My mate was walking past, then he started shouting and banging on the front door shouting ‘get out here quick’. I saw a car go past and up the road.

“I ran out and saw his clothes had been torn off so I went back into the house to get a blanket to cover him up.

“It all seemed like ages because there was no one else there but it must have just been seconds.

“At that point he was still alive. I left the blanket over him and waited as I shouted for help.

“I knew it was really bad.”

Rob Jones, who runs the local bike shop John Geddes Cycles, said he had known the victim for 20 years.

He said: “He had a lovely little boy aged around four or five and certainly didn’t deserve anything like this.”

A police spokeswoman said: “A 33-year-old man from the Whiston area has since been arrested in connection with this incident and has been taken into police custody where he will be questioned.

“At this stage of the investigation the full circumstances of this incident are still being established.

"The area has been cordoned off for Crime Scene Investigators and Collision Investigators to attend. Officers have also seized a Renault Megane, which will be forensically examined.”