A LARGE knife was discovered when police arrested a driver following a late-night car chase.

The man was chased by police cars through Great Lever on Sunday night and was arrested after abandoning his car and attempting to flee on foot.

Officers were called to Manchester Road shortly before midnight on Sunday, before chasing the motorist – who was reported to be doing twice the speed limit – on to Green Lane.

The black Fiat Stilo then turned into Charlesworth Avenue, which is a dead end, where the driver got out and attempted to flee the pursuing officers.

He was detained and arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, driving without a licence or insurance, drug-driving, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Residents in Charlesworth Avenue reported that another man, a passenger in the car, was seen escaping from the scene.

One neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, described the scene after the car came to a stop at the end of the street.

They said: “I was going up to bed when I saw blue lights flashing. They had pulled up and a there were a few police going after them.

“One went down the ginnel and got caught because the gate was locked off.

“The other went like a whippet down the street. A police woman went for hell after him, she did a good job but unfortunately he got away.

“I’ve lived here nearly 39 years and only seen that happen one time before years ago.”

Others said that a similar incident had happened on Wednesday in the quiet, residential street.

Another homeowner added: “Police came here at 5am after a car crashed into other vehicles in the street and then into the barrier at the end of the road.

“We’ve been here nearly 20 years and never had any problems before until now.

“We just don’t understand what is going on and why it is coming to our street. It would help if the police talked to us a little bit more about what is going on.”