A MAN was blasted in the foot with a sawn-off shotgun after refusing to hand over cash to robbers in Farnworth last night. The gang went through the 21-year-old man's pockets as he screamed in agony on the ground and escaped with his wallet containing £150. The victim, who has not been identified, was left bleeding heavily on the pavement.

It happened between 10pm and 10.20pm on Frederick Street, Farnworth, on the eve of a high profile visit to the town by the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester David Wilmot.

The attack also coincided with today's publication of a new Crime audit, featured in-depth on pages 17-20 tonight. The man was shot after three young men approached him in a blue car as he was walking along the pavement. He managed to drag himself into a nearby pub to raise the alarm. He was treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to Royal Bolton Hospital where he was placed under heavy sedation overnight.

He was due to undergo an operation to remove pellet fragments from his foot earlier today.

Detectives are still waiting by his bedside to speak to him, but a large hunt is under way for the gunmen. All three are described as youths. One is a 'half-cast' with a small goatee beard, the second is thought to be Asian, and the third is white.

Police are urging witnesses to contact Bolton CID on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers on the freephone number 0800 555 111.

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