A STOLEN car with its tyres blown out -- and sparks flying from its wheels -- was stopped by police in Bolton today after a high-speed chase through the North-west.

Police arrested the occupants of the car after a 40 minute pursuit.

The silver Volkswagen Golf was chased along the motorway network through Cheshire. The pursuit involved up to 10 police vehicles and the GMP force helicopter.

The speed of the car was slowed after officers blew out its tyres using Stinger -- a bed of nails -- which was thrown in front of the car on the M60 motorway. All four tyres of the vehicle deflated but the driver still reached speeds of up to 70mph. Stretches of the motorway was sealed off to other motorists.

The car was chased along St Peter's Way where it crashed into a police car after the traffic officer attempted to block its path.

As the police helicopter hovered overhead the car was driven along Bury Road speeding through red traffic lights before eventually being forced to stop at the junction with Milnthorpe Road, Breightmet. The occupants of the car were then arrested.

A police spokesman said: "The car reached very high speeds indeed. Thankfully no one at this stage appears to have been injured."

A motorist who saw the chase along Bury Road in Breightmet said three police vans, two Range Rovers and an unmarked police car followed the vehicle towards Bury at speeds of up to 60mph.

He said: "There were sparks flying everywhere and it looked like it had lost three of its tyres. The car was travelling on three of its steel wheel rims and it was very dramatic.

"It went past Mecca Bingo very quickly at speeds reaching at least 60mph with at least six police cars following it."

A number of people were this afternoon being being held at Wigan Police Station.