Nearly 4,000 football supporters stood in silence to pay tribute to a mechanic who died under a bus he is thought to have been working on in Oswestry. 

The 3,772 fans at yesterday’s Blue Square Premier match between Wrexham and Northwich Victoria stood to pay their respects to long-standing Wrexham fan Phil Formstone.

Mr Formstone, a father-of-one from Gresford, Wrexham, was found beneath a single decker bus at Oswestry’s bus depot in Salop Road on Sunday. A post mortem revealed he had died from crush injuries.

Geraint Parry, Wrexham Football Club spokesman, said: “Phil was a long-standing supporter. Supporters, and all those who travel to away games would certainly know him.

“It was a horrible shock, first and foremost to the family, but to friends as well. He was just a nice guy, somebody you liked to know.”

Police today appealed for someone seen walking past the bus depot shortly before Mr Formstone was found to come forward.

Detective Sergeant Darren Howells, of Oswestry CID, said the man seemed to glance over towards the Arriva forecourt as he walked past on Sunday, at about 1.20pm.

About half an hour later, a colleague found Mr Formstone, 46, beneath a vehicle he is thought to have been working on. 

Police were called to the premises in Salop Road by the ambulance service at about 1.50pm. Mr Formstone was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Police are now investigating Mr Formstone’s death in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive, which investigates accidents in repair workshops.