A FULL investigation has been launched after five police officers ended up in hospital when a training exercise went badly wrong.

The officers were practising a controlled stop on an unmarked vehicle when six police cars were involved in a collision.

No-one was badly hurt and the driver training method used has been suspended.

The accident happened near junction nine on the M61 and the motorway was partially closed for nearly three hours

Assistant Chief Constable Adrian McAllister said: "Thankfully, none of my officers has been badly injured and no members of the public were involved at all. I have now ordered an investigation to establish exactly what happened and a senior investigating officer has been appointed.

"In the circumstances I feel it only right that the constabulary suspend this type of training with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the investigation and a full report to the chief constable. This training is approved by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and as such is carried out in accordance with national policy, sanctioned by the Independent Police Complaints Commission."

During the training, a 'sterile area' is established to ensure no members of the public are placed in danger with matrix signals set to warn other motorists of potential hazards ahead.

The technique involves the officers manoeuvring at low speed to box in a vehicle in a controlled way. The exercise was carried out under the supervision of advanced driving instructors and overseen by a senior officer from the Constabulary's Motor Driving School.

Mr McAllister added: "Albeit this training is ACPO-approved and nationally accepted good practice, I feel it right to review our position at this time."

The five officers who were taken to hospital suffering from whiplash injuries, are all are experienced road policing officers.