A POLICE officer has been left with serious injuries after his vehicle was involved in crash following a car chase.

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested and remains in custody following the crash in the early hours of this morning. 

Officers from Greater Manchester Police's Roads Policing Unit attempted to pull over a blue Fiat Punto on the A6 close to Little Hulton shortly after 12.05am today.

The car refused to stop and officers began to pursue the vehicle, which continued on the A6, going through Swinton and heading towards Irlam O’the Heights before a stinger was successfully deployed on the Punto.

As both cars left the roundabout at the junction of the A6 and the A666 Manchester Road, in Pendlebury, they were involved in a collision with the central reservation barrier before coming to a stop.

The people in the Punto jumped out of the car and ran off.

A short time later, a 17-year-old boy was arrested nearby on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking and remains in custody for questioning.

The driver of the police car had to be taken to hospital with serious injuries where he remains for treatment.

The injuries are not life-threatening. Police Constable Neil Pennington of GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) said: “This incident could have been avoided had the driver of the Punto adhered to the laws of the road and pulled in when instructed to however they chose to ignore this and now as a result there is a police officer in the hospital.

“We will be carrying out a number of enquiries today to determine the exact circumstances leading up to the collision and I would like to appeal to anyone who has information or dash cam footage showing the incident to please contact the SCIU.”

Anyone with information should contact the GMP Serious Collision Unit on 0161 856 4741 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.