POLICE paraded a BMW they had seized from criminals in Bolton yesterday.

Officers visited Victoria Square, the Asda store in Astley Bridge and Farnworth precinct to raise awareness of the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The police have pledged to invest £50,000 into projects in Bolton, after recouping about £2.4 million from the town’s criminals over the past five years.

Deputy police and crime commissioner Jim Battle said: “Local people have suffered because of criminals’ actions and now it’s payback time.

"It sends a strong message that crime doesn’t pay and shows communities that not only have police taken criminals off the streets, but that their ill-gotten gains are being given back to residents and being put to positive use.”