The dramatic video footage caught on cameras mounted on GMP's helicopter THE masked man coolly walked from the car, levelled the gun at the police officers and fired the weapon.

There was a slight recoil as the bullets left the barrel, and wisps of gunsmoke broke the air.

The deed done, he jumped back in the vehicle. There was a screech of tyres and the car sped away as the orgy of violence continued.

cars were hijacked, motorists threatened at gunpoint, a young woman taken hostage and police officers and passers-by mown down as bullets were fired indiscriminately from the AK47 assault rifle.

But this was no Hollywood movie, it was real-life action here in Bolton.

And every second of it was caught on film from above, as horrified officers in GMP's Air Support Unit tracked the desperate villains' failed bid to escape.

Two weeks ago millions of television viewers saw the dramatic video footage which had been caught on tape by cameras mounted on GMP's helicopter.

The TV screening came on the the day that three men recieved lengthy jail sentences following the shootings.

The film evidence proved both shocking and damning, revealing the full terror that had unfolded in and around Bolton.

Insp Peter Ramsden, who heads up the Air Support Unit (ASU), admits the footage proved the icing on the cake in the capture of the violent criminals. said: "It was conclusive evidence really. They say a picture paints a thousand words and that was certainly the case here.

"From the moment the helicopter takes off the video recorder is running until we land. "We record everything and the evidence we have been able to supply through the cameras has been really powerful. It's very rare that it's been called into question, because it's absolutely primary evidence.

"Although it was tragic that so many people were shot, the aircraft was in a position whereby we could warn officers of the danger and to keep their distance. It could have been far worse."

His comments came as he gave the BEN a guided tour of the ASU's headquarters on the boundary of Barton Airport, near Eccles.

Since 1995 the ASU has been based at the purpose-built offices and hangar, having moved from its original HQ in Openshaw.

It means the team is only three minutes flying time from Bolton, in a helicopter which is capable of speeds up to 170 miles per hour.

From the second they receive a call-out it takes about two minutes for the machine to be air-borne.

So in just five minutes the aircraft can be hovering above Bolton, with observers guiding officers on the ground to a dangerous criminal.

Outside, on the landing pad, the force's aircraft -- a twin engine AS 355F2 -- stood waiting to be called into action.

And it was not long before the three man crew, trained observers Sgt Mark Littler and PC Glenn Wheeler and pilot Cpt Paul Olin, were running across the tarmac, answering a call out.

As it left the base Insp Ramsden dispelled myths that the machine is only used to chase cars adding: "People who watch Police Camera Action think we spend all our time chasing cars but the majority of our work concerns searches for offenders and missing from home searches. We're particularly effective in helping to look for young children. Using our Skyshout system we can put out messages which people pick up on and then they search their gardens to see if the child is there."

Fifteen minutes later the crew was back, having been scrambled to a security van robbery in Manchester city centre, where they helped in a search for vehicles believed connected to the incident.

But only 10 minutes later they were back out again, this time to Bury, following reports of a stolen car.

Eleven police officers make up the team - six sergeants and five PCs - who work on 12 hour shift rotas, providing 24 hour cover to the county. Officers are appointed on six-yearly secondments.

They are joined by four pilots who are currently contracted to work for GMP. Now as greater emphasis is placed on the role of the helicopter, millions of pounds are set to be spent on a new aircraft which should be in service early next year.

In 1989 the aircraft flew for 800 hours but now that has nearly doubled to 1,300, with demand for air-borne help increasing all the time.

The new machine will ensure Bolton's bobbies are given even more of a helping hand as they apprehend criminals who prey on townsfolk.

And the ASU team members have just one message for those villains: "We're watching you."