'I could be dead', says Starlight Bedrooms boss after thief drives car at him in Farnworth

In harrowing scenes — caught on CCTV — Alan Shuttleworth was eventually flung into the road as the thief sped away - and he said he is lucky to be alive after the ordeal.

The 59-year-old, who has run Starlight Bedrooms in Bloomfield Road for 35 years with brother Dennis, was locking up the premises when the thief struck at 3.20pm on February 7.

Mr Shuttleworth, who let go of the bonnet as the thief accelerated away from his store, suffered only cuts and bruises in the incident.

He said he fears an organised gang is responsible.

The thief continued to hit the accelerator despite Mr Shuttleworth clinging to the bonnet, and police described the his actions as "brazen".

Mr Shuttleworth had left the keys in the ignition as he was locking the business up and went to make sure that the steel shutters had been properly pulled down.

He had opened the security gate to the fenced compound, and had seen a man behaving suspiciously a few minutes before.

After hearing a woman on the opposite side of the street shout, "what are you doing? Get out of there", he raced back to the side of the yard as the man was getting into the car and starting it up.

Mr Shuttleworth said: "I did not have a chance to get out of the way and he was going to run me over so I jumped on the bonnet.

"He set off to the left and just kept going faster and faster. I was shouting 'get out of my car'.

"I thought 'this is dangerous' and let go.

"He could have run me over. If I had not let go then he would have got to the end, slammed his brakes on and thrown me over the car.

"I could have smashed my head on the floor and be dead now.

"There is no bravery involved. When someone tries to pinch what's yours, instinct kicks in."

After Mr Shuttleworth was thrown off the bonnet, the car drove along Bloomfield Road and out of sight.

The thief is was white, thin with gaunt features and stubble.

He was said to be about 5ft 8in tall, with short dark hair and wearing light blue jeans and a striped top with either blue, white or cream stripes.

PC Ceri Jones said: "The footage shows quite clearly that the victim could have been very seriously injured, or even worse, as a result of this thief's brazen act.

"He continued to hit the accelerator despite the victim clinging onto the bonnet and had zero regard for the man's safety.

"He could easily have driven over the victim and left him with life-changing injuries, but such was his desperation he did not care: all he wanted was the car.

"We have issued some very good CCTV footage which not only captures the incident itself but also captures the offender moments before the robbery which shows him wearing quite distinctive clothing.

"I would therefore firstly ask anyone who recognises this man or suspects they know who he is from his clothing to call us immediately.

"Secondly, I want to hear from anyone who has seen a brown Skoda Yeti being driven erratically or at high speeds in the area, or perhaps any second-hand car dealers who have been offered this vehicle by someone without the correct paperwork."

Police are not ruling out a link to a second car raid in the street, after a black BMW was stolen from a business opposite on Wednesday night in similar circumstances.

The second car theft happened at 5.35pm on February 18, when the car was stolen from Bloomfield Road after being left unattended.

The thief in that case was white, about 30 years old, slim, with shaved hair and dark stubble, and he was wearing a green jacket.

CCTV captured the raid but did not show the thief clearly, police said.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.