A SAWN-OFF shotgun has been found in a holdall dumped in woodland.

Police found the gun and two rounds of ammunition in a wooded area off Castle Hill Road, Hindley, near Hart Common, on Tuesday.

A metallic blue Renault Clio was seen to stop near the scene and a person left the bag at about noon.

Det Con Lynsey Watson, from Greater Manchester Police, said: “This is an excellent result, both for Greater Manchester Police but more importantly for the community.

“We may never know what this gun was intended for, but taking it off the streets means there is now one less weapon that could cause serious injury or even a fatality and a rob a family of a loved one."

Anyone with information can call police on 0161 8567225 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.