Exclusive: Residents startled by early morning police chase

Reporter: Kirsty Rigg
Date online: 09/01/2009

Residents in Shawclough were woken up by a swarm of police cars after a frantic car chase ended in a cul-de-sac.

Several vehicles raced into Thrum Hall Lane at 3.00am this morning (Friday 9 January) after the car, which police thought was acting suspiciously, failed to stop in Rochdale.

The chase carried on through the town centre and up Bentley Street, ending up on the cobbled road which turns into a small public footpath leading to Healey Dell.

Michael O’Brien, who was woken up by the commotion said: “I heard a lot of shouting and banging around, and of course, with my car being outside I went to see what was happening.

“I couldn’t believe the amount of police cars and vans that were out there, I thought something a lot bigger was going on.”

“It’s always a surprise to be woken up by flashing lights at 3.00am.” 

A spokeswoman from Greater Manchester Police said: “Police were on patrol in Rochdale when they saw a car acting suspiciously. The car failed to stop so the officers called for back-up.

“The car turned into Thrum Hall Lane where the driver was arrested for failing to stop”.