Independent investigators have started their inquiry into the death of a man who was being pursued by officers in a police car.

The man has now been identified as 31-year-old Mathew Young, of Quarry Road, Witney.

At the family home today, parents Stephen and Mary Young were too distressed to say anything about their son's death.

He died when the car he was driving, a green Rover, careered into a ditch on the A4095 Witney to Woodstock Road at around 12.15am yesterday.

Police arrived shorly afterwards at the spot, near the turn-off to North Leigh Football Club in the grounds of Eynsham Hall.

Mr Young, who was driving towards Long Hanborough from Witney, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has been called in to look into the circumstances surrounding his death.

James Henderson, IPCC spokesman, told the Oxford Mail: "The IPCC can confirm that the incident was referred early on Sunday morning.

"Our investigators have visited the scene to carry out an assessment and are awaiting further information which will inform the commission's response."

The IPCC's involvement is automatic whenever there is a death or serious injury through polcie contact of any sort.

Mr Henderson added that "anything of significance" will be passed on to the Oxfordshire coroner. An inquest is expected to be opened and adjourned in Oxford on Wednesday.

Police have said that officers, in a marked car, attempted to stop the green Rover shortly after midnight, but the car failed to stop and made off along the A4095 where there is a 50mph speed limit.

Their statement added that two officers followed but within minutes lost sight of the car. They subsequently found the Rover in a ditch with one man trapped inside.

Witney fire crews, along with paramedics and the police helicopter, were called out but were unable to save Mr Young. No one else was injured.

The road was closed for about six hours through the night while investigators worked on the scene.