Greater Manchester Police are investigating after a stolen 4x4 was used to ram raid a petrol station, in Bolton.

At 1.30am on, Monday 10 August, police were called to the Gulf petrol station on Harrowby Street in Farnworth, where a silver Mitsubishi Shogun 4x4 had been deliberately driven into the front of the shop.

Four men wearing balaclavas jumped out of the 4x4, abandoning it and fleeing the scene. They ran onto Heaton Avenue and then St. Germain Street where they got into a waiting dark-coloured saloon car.

Police believe the 4x4 was stolen sometime after 5pm on Friday 7 August from a service station on Hacken Lane, in Little Lever.

Detective sergeant Tony Lunt of Bolton division said: “The offenders used a Mitsubishi Shogun to smash the shop wall multiple times, but they didn’t manage to steal anything.

“It is fortunate that no-one was outside the shop when the 4x4 rammed it, as the consequences could have been severe.

“I would urge anybody who saw a silver Shogun in the Farnworth area at that time or saw four men in balaclavas fleeing the scene to contact police immediately.”

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 5608, 101, or charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.