AN off-duty police officer was stabbed in the hand as he arrested a man during an attempted robbery.

The police officer, who has not been named, spotted a robbery taking place at Pennington Wine and Spirits, on St Helens Road, in Leigh, at 9.15pm, last night.

As the attempted to arrest a man there was a struggle and the pair fell out of the shop into the street.

A second man tried to prevent the arrest and in the scuffle the police officer was stabbed in the hand. He also sustained bruises to the back, legs and arms after being kicked to the ground.

Despite the attack the police officer managed to kept hold of the first man.

The second man, described as a white male, in his 30s, with a Liverpool accent escaped in a white Ford Fiesta.

DI Ian Foster, from Leigh CID said the police officer was taken to Leigh Infirmary for treatment.

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