The Met has confirmed the launch a manslaughter investigation after a stolen vehicle that had earlier been pursued by police hit and killed a pensioner.

The Force said Roberto Da Silva died at the scene in Hayes after the collision on the evening of February 7. A post mortem examination found he had suffered severe trauma to the spine.

According to reports, police were called by a man who had seen his VW Golf being driven away – he later discovered his keys had been taken during a burglary.

A short time later, officers saw the car and began to follow it. But they abandoned the pursuit as a matter of procedure after the Golf struck a Vauxhall Zafira – the police vehicle also suffered a minor collision with the car.

The stolen vehicle later went on to collide with 70-year-old Mr Da Silva as he left a parked vehicle. It was reported that two men abandoned the Golf and made off on foot.

Officers from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command are investigating the incident and an appeal for any witnesses has now been made.