DETECTIVES investigating the murder of a part-time taxi driver have appealed to anyone who flagged down a taxi in the Northfleet area on Wednesday night to come forward.

Gian Chand Bajar, 71, was found lying on the road in St Benedict's Avenue, Gravesend at 10.10pm on Wednesday. Witnesses told detectives that a vehicle was driven over him.

Officers were called to the scene following reports that Mr Bajar, who was from Gravesend and married with five children, had been assaulted. He died soon afterwards.

His taxi - a silver Skoda Octavia - was found abandoned after it had been set alight in Gravesend's Truro Road.

Ch Supt Gary Beautridge, area commander for north Kent, said: "This is a heinous and cowardly crime committed against an elderly, up-standing member of the community."

Now police are trying to piece together exactly where Mr Bajar travelled in the hours and minutes before his death.

They want to speak to anyone who flagged down a taxi in the Springhead area of Northfleet between 9pm and 10.30pm on Wednesday. Mr Bajar then headed back towards the Westcourt area of Gravesend with his fare.

Ch Supt Gary Beautridge added: "We know that Mr Bajar's taxi was flagged down, possibly more than once, and we need to speak to those people.

"They may hold vital information, however insignificant it may seem, which will help bring the person who committed this crime to justice.

A dedicated incident room line has been set up and police say bilingual staff will be manning the phones. The number to contact is 01622 654850. Alternatively, call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A 20-year-old man from Gravesend was arrested on Thursday afternoon in connection with Mr Bajar's death.