TWO men have been jailed following a six-mile high speed pursuit through Bolton and Bury when five people, including two young children, were injured.

Five cars were also damaged, with one written off during the chase, Bolton Crown Court was told.

The stolen car contained three men and was driven by Karl Smith who had already been banned five times.

One passenger who admitted his part in the chase earlier was jailed for nine months by magistrates.

The second passenger was high on heroin.

Bolton Crown Court heard that the car sped off, evading a police stinger designed to puncture tyres, at speeds of up to 90mph.

The car was driven on the wrong side of the road, forcing oncoming cars to swerve and, in one case, to mount the pavement to avoid a crash. It was driven through several sets of red traffic lights.

It was finally abandoned in the car park of a Farnworth supermarket and the men ran off. But they were all caught nearby.

Smith, aged 24, of no fixed abode, and his passenger John Harrison, aged 34, of Bromwich Street in Bolton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence.

Smith was jailed for 19 months, banned from driving for four years and ordered to take an extended driving test to regain his licence. Harrison was jailed for 11 months and banned from driving for two years. Both Smith and Harrison had admitted aggravated vehicle taking and Smith admitted driving while disqualified. Harrison admitted being carried in a vehicle and both men admitted failing to surrender to their bail. Prosecutor Mark Monaghan said that the car, a G-registered Vauxhall Belmont, had been taken from Horwich Parkway station and was later spotted in Asda on the Pilsworth estate in Bury.

Police were called and placed a "stinger" in its path, but Smith avoided it and sped through a petrol station and over a grass verge and onto Pilsworth Road. Police followed and estimated the car's speed at up to 70mph.

At Hollins Brow the car shot through red lights at speed and collided with two cars, causing one driver whiplash injuries.

Another car, driven by a man with his girlfriend and their three-year-old daughter, was also hit by the stolen car.

The chase continued at speed through residential streets in Farnworth before the car was abandoned in a supermarket car park.

Recorder Philip Cattan said Smith had driven in a disgraceful manner and left several people out of pocket after insurance payouts.

He told Harrison that at his age he should have known better to become involved.