A THUG wielding a spanner attacked two police officers after a break-in at a Little Hulton newsagent's.

One of the police officers was hit across the face with the spanner after he chased the man down an alleyway near the shop.

But, despite his injuries, PC Keith Lyon bravely managed to grab hold of the attacker and wrestled him to the ground until more officers arrived on the scene.

The incident happened shortly after 4am yesterday when neighbours reported intruders were breaking into Martin's newsagents in the Little Hulton District Centre.

Two local beat bobbies arrived on the scene within four minutes and spotted a thief running out of the shop. The security shutters had been forced open.

PC Alan Liptrot confronted the thug on the pavement but was then struck across the arm with an extendable spanner. The attacker then fled but was chased on foot by PC Lyon.

The police officer chased the thug along the main road and into a dimly-lit alleyway. The thief hid but struck the police officer in the face after emerging from his hiding place.

PC Lyon suffered a nasty facial injury but still managed to wrestle his attacker to the ground and arrested him as more help arrived.

Both police officers were taken to Salford's Hope Hospital but were later released after treatment.

A man was being quizzed by detectives today.

Another man is being hunted in connection with the break-in. Cigarettes and a small quantity of cash was stolen from the newsagent's shop.

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