A POLICE officer spoke of the moment of terror when he was rammed by a stolen vehicle as he sat in a squad car.

Motorway PC John Whitehead was a passenger in the car when it was struck three times by a Land Rover following a motorway chase.

It happened on the M6 at Samlesbury before being hit again at the junction with the M61 and then on the M65 before the driver sped off toward Blackburn and left the motorway at junction 3 in Withnell.

PC Whitehead said: "We were really frightened and were very concerned for our safety with someone obviously trying to attack us. Afterwards when I had chance to reflect, I was very concerned about the danger of the incident and the consequences of the driver's reckless actions."

Police said the incident, which happened on Friday at 10.30pm, was 'dangerous and totally reckless', and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Officers were notified of the theft of the dark blue Land Rover from Arnside in Cumbria on Friday evening.

It was later spotted travelling southbound on the M6 near Samlesbury and followed it onto the M61. The Land Rover stopped on the hard shoulder just before junction 9 of the M61 in Walton-le-Dale and the police estate car parked up to investigate. But when one of the officers walked down the hard shoulder towards it he was forced to dive clear as it tried to mow him down.

DC Ian Gregson, leading the investigation at Preston Motorway Unit, said: "The Land Rover literally climbed onto the police car when it was hit for the last time."

Anyone with any information about the Land Rover, registration R527 LDD, should contact the Motorway Unit on 01772 410465 or 01772 614444 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.