A POLICE officer used CS gas to overpower a man who threatened him with a knife in a Bolton street.

The officer sprayed the man in the face during a violent struggle.

The incident happened as the officer investigated a report of theft in Sutton Road, Deane, shortly before 5.30pm on Saturday.

The man was being interviewed when he suddenly produced a knife and struck out at the police officer who was wearing "body armour" - a reinforced police jacket - now routinely worn by the police.

A 29-year-old man has been charged with theft and assault on the police. In another incident a man was arrested after a woman traffic warden was jostled in a Bolton street at the weekend.

A man who came to the aid of the warden was hit in the face.

The incident happened in Back Cheapside, Bolton, on Saturday as the warden talked to a driver about a parking offence.

Police say the motorist spat in the face of the traffic warden and started to push her. A passer-by then came to her aid but he was punched in the face as he confronted her attacker.

Police arrested a man at the scene. He was interviewed by officers and inquiries are still continuing.

The traffic warden was shocked but otherwise uninjured. The man who came to her aid needed hospital treatment for facial injuries.

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