Police are hunting up to four men after a stolen car crashed into a police car.
Patrol officers had asked the blue Nissan 4x4 to stop on Union Road, Oswaldtwistle around 5.40am this morning (Friday).
The driver reversed into a police car causing extensive damage before mounting the pavement and making off onto Stanhill Road.
It then made onto Hargreaves Road, before performing a U-turn and heading back down the road, narrowly missing a head on collision with another police car and colliding with a car parked on the roadside. The vehicle continued onto Stanhill Road and turned right up New Lane before being abandoned on farm land at the top of New Lane.
Police believe up to four men then got out of the car and ran off into the fields. They were chased by a police dog for a number of miles before escaping.
Officers suspect the car had been stolen from a burglary at an address in Bacup yesterday (15 July).
An investigation is underway and police are urging anyone with information to contact them.
Inspector Ilyas Mohmed said: "I appeal to anyone who saw the blue Nissan before the collision or who has any information about the people involved in this incident to contact us.
"Fortunately no one was injured but this was a very serious incident and we are doing all we can to find the suspects."
Anyone with information can contact police on 0845 1 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
