Reward offered in hunt for gang

Two officers, a man and a woman, were taken to hospital

A £25,000 reward has been offered in the hunt for an "armed and dangerous" gang who shot at a police officer during a bank robbery.

The officer was hurt when the robbers fired at a police van as they made their getaway from Barclays Bank in Horwich, near Bolton, on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old man suffered facial injuries and his 40-year-old female colleague suffered shock.

The reward is for information leading to the gang's arrest and conviction.

Police were responding to an emergency call about the robbery at the branch in Winter Hey Lane at about 0930 GMT when the incident happened.

Two men threatened staff members inside the bank with a shotgun and assaulted one of them before stealing a substantial amount of money.

They fled in a red Ford Focus, in which another man was waiting, but set fire to it and got into a silver Ford Mondeo just off Crown Lane.

These men need to be caught Supt Andy Durkin

As the police van drew up behind the Mondeo, one of the robbers got out and fired at the windscreen of the van with a shotgun.

The Mondeo, which had a false number plate of LM04 UTE, was later found abandoned on the Crawford Arms car park, on Red Rock Lane in Radcliffe.

The two Horwich-based constables were taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital after the attack, but were later discharged. The assaulted staff member was treated by paramedics.

Officers were carrying out road checks on Red Rock Lane on Thursday morning and were stopping vehicles to speak to any witnesses.

CCTV footage is also being examined as the team leading the inquiry looks for clues to the identity of the gang.

The three men, who are all believed to be white, were wearing dark clothing and dark-coloured face masks.

More patrols

Supt Andy Durkin, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "I'd like to reiterate that the men responsible for these incidents are armed and dangerous and no one should protect their identities.

"To discharge a shotgun at close range directly at the windscreen of a police van at unarmed officers and to use unnecessary violence against bank staff is just horrific. These men need to be caught.

"I'd like to reassure the local community that we are doing everything we can to trace the offenders responsible for these terrifying incidents."

Greater Manchester Police have increased patrols in the area to reassure members of the public.

Despite the precautions, Mr Durkin said the level of violence used by the robbers and the fact a gun was fired was "unusual".

"Commercial and cash in transit robbers rarely target members of the public and do not usually carry firearms," he said.