A POLICE helicopter was seen and heard flying over Bolton for several hours last night.

Residents living near Tonge Moor Road and Bradshaw Brow report that the helicopter was seen and heard flying above the area between 11pm on Thursday night and 2am on Friday morning.

Many of them reported hearing the whirring helicopter noises for hours into the early morning.

One resident said: "I didn't see it but my wife said she saw the blue and yellow police markings on the helicopter.

"We just heard it flying around for about three hours.

"It was just flying there, it was obviously looking for something or someone."

Many of the people living in the surrounding area reported hearing similar noises into the early hours of the morning.

As yet, police have not confirmed the nature of the incident or why the helicopter was called into action over the course of the night.

But in previous incidents across the borough the helicopter has been used to chase down suspects after robberies, assaults and other crimes as part of a wider police pursuit.

Helicopters have also been used in the recent past to chase down stolen cars.

Greater Manchester Police have been approached for comment.