Man in danger driving case

11:40am Thursday 27th March 2008

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A MAN has been charged after a gang shattered the peace of a Burnley village.

Up to 30 men, in high-powered BMWs and Range Rovers, descended on Church Square in Worsthorne on Easter Monday.

Police believe the group were looking for a Burnley man, in what was thought to be a drugs-related incident.

But officers confronted the balaclava-clad posse and arrested nine men on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.

Detective Inspector Sion Hall, of Burnley CID, said that after speaking to witnesses, charges were no longer being pursued against eight of the men.

But one Salford man was due to appear before Burnley magistrates yesterday charged with dangerous driving and disqualified driving.

He is alleged to have driven a vehicle at a police officer while attempting to flee the Worsthorne area.

The gang, including teenagers and men in their 30s and 40s, caused the Salterforth Lane area to be sealed off.

Lancashire Police's helicopter was also drafted in after a number of suspects attempted to abandon their vehicles and escape.