TWO would-be ladder thieves drove at a man in their getaway van, leaving him with serious leg injuries.

Police were called at around 8.15pm last night after being told two men tried to steal ladders from the top of a white Vauxhall van parked on Northfield Road in Bury.

The owner of the van and another man spotted the culprits in the act and attempted to stop the two men.

The men tried to flee the scene and got into a separate van – believed to have been a white Citroen Belingo – and drove at one of the men.

The offenders then left on Walmersley Road in the direction of Bury town centre.

The victim was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries, where he remains in a stable condition.

No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.

Detective Sergeant Steven Horton, of Greater Manchester Police's Bury district, said: "One man has ended up in hospital with potential life changing injuries as a result of this incident and we wish him a speedy recovery as he receives treatment.

"We are keen to establish any identifiable characteristics of the offenders and the vehicle. We are therefore appealing for anyone with any information, dash cam footage or who have a witness account to contact us."

If you have any information contact police on 0161 856 8001, quoting log number 2,910 of April 21.

Alternatively, details can be passed on anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.