POLICE have issued a description of a man they believe stabbed a 55-year-old and left him to die in the street.

A passenger in a car has told police she saw someone attacking John Wells, who was discovered bleeding to death from a fatal neck wound in Newcastle on New Year's Day.

Mr Wells had gone into the Punch Bowl Pub, in Jesmond Road, at 8.35pm, on New Year's Day, to buy some beer and was seen five minutes later walking towards Sandyford Road, in the Sandyford area of Newcastle.

A passenger in a car has told police she saw a man - believed to be Mr Wells - standing on the pavement between the Pelican crossing on Sandyford Road and Apollo Blinds, a shop at the junction of Goldspink Lane.

She described him as holding a carrier-bag up to his chin while a man appeared to be hitting Mr Wells or trying to get something from him.

The man is described as in his late-teens to mid-twenties and was wearing a cream, checked Burberry-style baseball cap. He is described as having skinny legs and was wearing tight, dark jeans and a dark, shiny padded jacked.

Detective Superintendent Steve Bolam, who is leading the inquiry, said he wanted to hear from anyone who may recognise the attacker.

He said: "We also still want people who may have been in the area to come forward. Although it wasn't as busy as a normal night, we know there were people in the area of Sandyford Road and Goldspink Lane between 8.35pm and 8.50pm."

Witnesses are asked to call police on 0191-214 6555 ext 62833.