THREE men had amazing escapes when a stolen car crashed on to its roof after a major police pursuit in Bury last night.

Two men from Salford were arrested and a third man fled the crash outside the Bay Horse pub in Pole Lane, Unsworth.

A parked Rover Metro has been declared a write-off as a result of the collision while two other cars, both Volkswagens, were also damaged in the high speed pursuit.

The stolen Subaru was being pursued in connection with an attempted burglary on a jewellers in Bury's Millgate Shopping Centre at 10.30pm. Five men forced their way through the Crompton Street entrance but were disturbed as they forced the security shutters at Burns Jewellers.

They fled in two Subaru vehicles. One was lost in the Gigg Lane area while the second was followed along Manchester Road and Sunnybank Road with officers assisted by the force helicopter. As the vehicle sped along Pole Lane, it crashed into the parked Metro, flipped into the air and crashed on to its roof. Its three occupants walked clear of the wreckage with one youth running off. Two others were arrested by police.

Station Officer Paul Myerscough of Bury Fire Station, who was called to the accident, said: "It obviously was a spectacular crash and it is unbelievable that everyone inside the Subaru walked away from it."

Bury police are to view CCTV video recorders of the attempt jewellery raid before speaking to the 19 and 23-year-old youths.

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