RAM raiders who made off with thousands of pounds worth of designer perfume threw police off the scent by hurling bottles at officers during a high-speed chase.

Thieves used a blue Saab 900, registration H809 AVU, to carry out a smash and grab raid at Boots, Bank Street, Rawtenstall.

The vehicle, stolen from Cheshire, was reversed through the front doors of the store before four raiders, wearing black balaclavas and dark clothing, loaded the car with a stash of designer perfumes.

They were spotted by a passing traffic officer as they made off through Rawtenstall and were chased along the A56 by-pass as they headed towards Manchester at more than 100mph.

Police said the gang hurled bottles of perfume at them throughout the pursuit and smashed into two cars as they tried to overtake. A woman in one of the cars was taken to Fairfield Hospital, Bury, for minor injuries. A man in a second vehicle was unhurt.

The gang escaped despite a major hunt involving the police helicopter after abandoning the car and making off over a field. Police said they were heading towards Edenfield.

Detective Sergeant Andy Gilbert, said: "The helicopter and response drivers searched, but couldn't find anything.

"We need to speak to anybody who may have seen the vehicle earlier that day and urge anybody who may have been in the area at the time or may have been driving along the A56 and noticed the men to call us. We haven't found the clothing or balaclavas."

Richard Wood , manager of Boots, said he was now planning to install shutters at the store to prevent any further raids. He said: "We have been broken into before so we have decided to take action. We will press charges when the perpetrators are caught and ask anybody who may know anything to contact the police.

Anybody with information about the incident, which happened at 10.40pm on Wednesday, can contact Rossendale CID on 01282 237440 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.