A man was arrested in the town centre yesterday after being caught allegedly with “a machete.”

Plainclothes police officers had been around the town centre area on Thursday, October 17 when they saw the man “behaving suspiciously.”

They chased after him before stopping, arresting and searching him.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Officers have been on a plain clothes operation in Bolton town Centre when PC Wilkinson and PC Waite have spotted a male behaving suspiciously.

“Officers have attempted to detain the male and he has made off.

“Following a short foot pursuit, the male was detained and searched under S23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

“He was found in possession on a machete and as a result arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article.

“He remains in custody for questioning.”

As yet no further details have been released about the man arrested and taken into custody.

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But police in Bolton and elsewhere across Greater Manchester have long stressed the importance of tackling suspected knife crime and the often fatal consequences it can have.

Anyone with any further information or concerns can call 101 or 999 in the event of an emergency.

Alternatively, witnesses can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.