A PRIVATE hire driver could hold vital information about the alleged murder of a young man.

The body of Mohammed Aftab was discovered on a country lane in Smallbridge, Rochdale, on Christmas Day morning. Police say the 21-year-old suffered multiple head injuries and stab wounds to the neck.

A murder investigation was launched and detectives have now released images of a cab whose driver could be a key witness in the case.

The CCTV was taken from outside The Bull's Head pub on Halifax Road between 10.45pm and 11pm on Christmas Eve. The car is believed to be a silver, grey or gold Toyota Avensis with private hire signage.

A GMP spokesman said: "Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses, in particular the driver of the car in the CCTV images, who is not believed to have had any involvement in the murder."

Last week, an estimated 1,000 people attended funeral prayers for Mohammed at the Bilal mosque in Wardleworth. …