The unidentified pedestrian was passing the William Hill branch on Camden Road, just before 5pm yesterday, when the 30ft long metal sign struck him on the head.

The victim, believed to be in hospital, was seriously injured and died in hospital a short time after.

Witness, Ken Osbourne, told the BBC he saw the man, ‘lying down in the road, covered in blood’.

He added: “The main impact was clearly on his head. I saw them trying to resuscitate him in the back of the ambulance.

“Hundreds of people walk past here every day. It could've been me or any one of them.”

A William Hill spokesman said an ‘urgent investigation was underway’ and the company is ‘liaising with authorities’.