A POLICE officer had a lucky escape when his patrol car careered out of control during a chase through Farnworth early today. The officer, who has not been identified, was chasing a Metro-type car when he lost control of his police Astra. The car careered into a lamp-post in Manchester Road, Bolton, before crashing into a roadside barrier and rebounding into the road.

The dark-coloured car the officer had been chasing was driven away from the scene at high speed.

The R-registered police car was badly damaged but the officer escaped with leg, head and whiplash injuries.

Debris from the crash littered the road and a light fitting from the damaged lamp-post fell down onto St Peter's Way immediately below and was struck by a passing BMW car. The car was damaged but the driver, Mohammed Rafiq of Gilnow Gardens, Bolton, escaped injury.

The chase began shortly before 2am today when the police officer spotted the car in Farnworth. The driver raced away at high speed when he saw the police car.

The car was then driven through red traffic light junctions along Manchester Road but, at the junction with Rowena Street, the police officer lost control of the vehicle.

The officer, who is based at Farnworth Police Station, was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital in another police vehicle. He was released after treatment but has now reported sick.

Police sealed off the road after the crash and an accident investigation team was called in.

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