Man arrested but another escapes as stolen car is rammed by police after high-speed pursuit

A 22-year-old man was arrested yesterday afternoon after an extraordinary pursuit ended in dramatic fashion in Altrincham town centre.

Drivers and onlookers on Barrington Road watched in astonishment as the incident unfolded shortly after 2.15pm.

Video from the scene shows a white Food Focus being trapped by two unmarked police cars - a grey VW Golf and a black BMW 1-Series - close to Altrincham Methodist Church, with the Golf shunting the Ford Focus to stop it.

When the driver of the Ford Focus tried to reverse, the VW Golf then rammed the car head-on in a bid to close off any potential escape route.

The unmarked BMW police car then rammed the Golf from the side and two men in dark clothing emerged from the vehicle.

Watch the extraordinary incident here:

One ran for a few yards before giving himself up close to the entrance to the office development known as 3 Barrington Road.

Another ran in the opposite direction towards the Cresta Court hotel but it's understood he managed to escape.

Police said the white Ford Focus had been stolen, and the pursuit went through Wythenshawe and then Hale village, with CCTV footage showing the three cars racing along Ashley Road just before 2.15pm.

The stolen car then travelled through Altrincham town centre before mounting a pavement close to the junction where the pursuit eventually ended.

Here's exclusive footage of the pursuit through Hale village: