Officer shot at in bank robbery

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

Police are hunting a gang of three men who shot at a policeman during an armed 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 male officer was treated for non life-threatening facial injuries and his 40-year-old female colleague suffered shock.

Greater Manchester Police said the gang were "armed and dangerous".

The two Horwich-based constables were taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital after the attack, but were later discharged.

It is not clear if the male officer's injuries were caused by pellets from the shotgun or shards of glass from the windscreen.

Police said two of the gang had gone into the bank, on Winter Hey Lane, and threatened staff with a shotgun before stealing cash.

One of the robbers shot at the van as it drew up behind their car

The men left in a red Ford Focus but set fire to it and got into a silver Ford Mondeo just off Crown Lane.

The Mondeo had a false number plate, registration LM04 UTE.

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

The Mondeo was later found abandoned on the Crawford Arms car park, on Red Rock Lane in Radcliffe.

Supt Andy Durkin, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Thankfully the officers involved in this incident have not received life-threatening injuries.

"These men are armed and dangerous and need to be caught.

"We would advise people not to approach the vehicle but to report any sightings or information to us immediately."

Police said their officers were not armed and no shots were fired by them.

The male officer has been with GMP for four-and-a-half years and his female colleague has 18 years of service, the force said.