DETECTIVES are offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a gang who attacked police officers and hijacked an elderly woman in a van.

Anna Hughes, aged 82, was driven away by the masked attackers after they dragged her son out of their Fiat Diablo in Whitefield after a police pursuit.

The gang tried to get Mrs Hughes out of the passenger seat as the van sped away but the brave pensioner refused to leave and fought back by jabbing at one attacker with a bunch of keys. After a short distance, the gang abandoned the van near to Brandlesham Street in Prestwich.

Mrs Hughes was struck on the head by one of the offenders as he got out of the vehicle.

She was uninjured but was left in a state of shock.

The incident happened at around 10.15pm, on May 12, at the junction of Bury Old Road and Langley Hall Road.

Police had started following the gang after spotting a Ford Escort van being driven by masked men on Park Lane. Objects were thrown at the police vehicle, including a wheel brace that broke the windscreen.

When the offenders became trapped in traffic, one gang member approached the police car and attacked it with a machete.

He broke the driver's door window and narrowly missed the police officer.

The police car managed to reverse away from the attacker and avoid serious injury. They then hijacked the van with Mrs Hughes inside it.

Detective Inspector Simon Collier, from Whitefield CID said "This was a terrifying ordeal for Mrs Hughes. She remained calm and alert as well as showing great courage to fight back.

"The police officers following the men tried everything to catch the attackers, but were met with gratuitous violence."

"This is a substantial reward and reflects the seriousness of the offence."

"I am sure that members of the criminal fraternity would be appalled at the treatment of Mrs Hughes."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Whitefield CID with information on 0161 856 8248