A CAR crashed into a police vehicle minutes after a supermarket was ram raided at the weekend.

Thieves used a pick-up truck to smash through a metal shutter and windows at the Kwik Save store, Birch Avenue, Penwortham and took a free-standing cash machine.

A couple returning home from a nearby pub spotted the raid on Sunday at 10.40pm and called police.

Police responding to the emergency call saw the truck and followed it up Howick Park Avenue.

Detective Constable Paddy Lavelle, of Leyland CID said the raiders then abandoned the truck and got into a Volvo saloon which collided with the police vehicle.

Three men were arrested after a search of the area and the cash machine full of money was recovered.

Det Con Lavelle said a number of youths were seen at the supermarket while the raid was taking place and called for anyone with information to come forward.

"We think that there were probably quite a few people who may have seen something suspicious at that time, we believe that at least five or six people were seen outside the shop," he said.

"We are still looking for anyone with information about vehicles or people seen in the vicinity to come forward."

Three men arrested in connection with the incident were released on police bail on Monday pending further inquiries.