Child, 3, in car driven at 150mph to escape police

Jonny Humphries - BBC News, Manchester
·1 min read
3
A crashed Audi A3 in Bentley Street, Rochdale
The child was sitting on the knee of the passenger before it crashed in Bentley Street, Rochdale [GMP]

Two men have been arrested after a car carrying a three-year-old child and a dog was driven at up to 150mph during a police chase.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the Audi A3 crashed into a lamp post in Bentley Street, Rochdale, at 19:10 BST.

The child and dog were both uninjured and taken into police protection.

The men were arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

'Beyond unacceptable'

The child was said to have been sitting on the knee of the passenger.

The pursuit began on Bury New Road, Heywood, and continued for 13 minutes through Rochdale, towards Whitworth and back to Rochdale before the crash.

The car hit speeds of up to 150mph, the force said.

Insp Richard Shelton, from GMP's Rochdale district, said: "The reckless actions of these offenders have put a three-year-old child at risk, as well as members of the public going about their daily business.

"The speeds reached are beyond unacceptable and I am pleased that our officers acted swiftly to secure these arrests, bring the child into police protection and seize the vehicle."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk