TWO men were being questioned by police today following a dramatic car chase through Bolton. During the pursuit, a woman officer was injured when her patrol car was rammed three times. The car driver was only arrested after being overpowered with CS gas.

The drama began when the PC tried to pull over the Vauxhall Astra for a vehicle check after spotting a broken windscreen. But the car was reversed at high speed into the patrol car before it raced off along Captain's Clough Road at about 1pm yesterday. As the Astra was followed, the force helicopter was called in to help.

The Astra driver rammed the police car again on Chorley Old Road and for a third time on Whitecroft Road, where it became too badly damaged to carry on. The officer suffered whiplash and shoulder injuries and was off sick today.

But officers in Westhoughton picked up the chase on Park Road. The Astra raced through Market Street and then collided with a bus on Wigan Road.

It was then driven towards Hindley where the passenger jumped out.

The driver carried on before abandoning the car at the junction of Ladies Lane and Market Street.

He ran into the Normid store and was arrested outside after a violent struggle.

The other man was found hiding under a car. A quantity of stolen goods were found in the car, which was reported stolen from Leigh.

The men were detained in Astley Bridge police station overnight and were being interviewed today.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.