A 24-year-old man died on the operating table in hospital today after smashing a stolen BMW into a lamppost.

The man, who police have not named, crashed the green M3 coupe in Wyke just before 11pm last night.

It is believed the car had been stolen in Brighouse just 20 minutes earlier.

The impact of the smash - which saw the car skid into the post sideways - left the mangled wreckage of the high-performance car wrapped around the post. Rescuers had a tricky job getting the badly injured man out, and he died later in hospital.

Several police, fire and ambulance vehicles were scrambled to the scene, at the junction of Woodside Road and High Fernley Road.

The collision happened as the man was driving towards Bradford along the A641, on a straight section of the road.

Police today appealed for witnesses to the incident.

Fire crews from Odsal and Brighouse stations were involved in the rescue operation.

They removed the driver using cutting equipment and he was taken to the Bradford Royal Infirmary by ambulance, but he later died during surgery.

Station officer Glenn Brown, of Odsal fire station, said: "The car was a right mess. He had been travelling towards Bradford and had collided with the lamppost sideways, hitting it on the driver's side. His legs were trapped on the passenger's side, it was quite awkward. Because of the extent of his injuries we had to get him out quickly. The lamppost being there didn't help."

The man was still breathing while the firefighters tried to release him.

"We used cutting gear to free him and it took approximately 15 minutes," said Station Officer Brown.

Woodside Road resident David Harrison heard the crash.

"My wife and I heard the bang and we ran to the window and I saw two cars. One of the cars then drove off.

"The car that was left was an absolute mess. It was crumpled up. I went outside to try to help but by that time the police and fire brigade were on the scene.

"The car was in such a bad state that I couldn't tell what make it was. This is the second time there has been a crash at that place. It's getting to be a real blackspot."