Two ‘suspects’ taken to hospital after police pursuit drama

Officers said a patrol car had indicated for the driver of a Renault Laguna to pull over after it matched the description of a wanted vehicle.

But after it failed to stop a police pursuit followed which ended up with two of the car’s occupants colliding with police vehicles as they tried to flee.

Hours earlier police had been called to reports of a hold-up at a house in Haslingden.

A referral has now been made to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) following the incident which happened at about 4.30am on Saturday.

Police said they had been informed of the robbery in Haslingden at 11.30pm and officers were told to be on the look out for a car thought to be involved in the raid.

Inspector Dave Wilson, of Pennine Police, said: “The vehicle had failed to stop, a pursuit ended and they have attempted to make off from the vehicle.

“During the incident two of the offenders have been injured and they received hospital treatment.”

The pursuit is known to have ended on Newchurch Road, which runs from Rawtenstall to Newchurch via Higher Cloughfold.

Police said they had arrested four young people in connection with the robbery.

Three of those arrested, a 19-year-old woman from Haslingden, a 23-year-old man from Haslingden, and a 25-year-old man from Bacup - have been released on police bail until May 7, pending further enquiries.

The fourth, a man in his 20s, was released and will face no further action.

On Saturday, early morning bus services were diverted by public transport operators Rosso as the Laguna involved, and two police BMWs, were placed onto low loaders for further examination.

A Rosso spokesman said: “Bus service 482 was unable to serve most of Newchurch Road due to a police incident which closed the road.”

The road re-opened at around 10am.

Insp Wilson added that a referral had been made to the IPCC and Lancashire’s police’s professional standards department as a result of the collision.