TWO policemen feared for their lives when their car was rammed by a stolen vehicle which had been driven through a town centre at 70mph.

Blackburn officers Simon Harwood and Stephen Wallwork were called to Belmont after reports of a break-in at a house, when they spotted a white Ford Sierra on the A666 Bolton Road, at around 3.20am yesterday.

Believing the occupants were acting suspiciously, police signalled for the driver to stop but he instead drove off in the direction of Bolton and police began a high-speed pursuit.

Blackburn Inspector Mick Laraway said the chase took the Lancashire officers to Bolton town centre where the offenders went through several red lights at up to speeds of 70mph.

As the police dog vehicle, a Vauxhall Vectra, got close to the Sierra the offenders -- believed to be from the Manchester area -- reversed and rammed it three times at high-speed causing considerable damage to the bonnet and wings and putting it out of action.

PC Wallwork received minor injuries although did not require hospital treatment.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police took up the pursuit but the offenders were not caught.

Inspector Laraway said every effort would be made to bring them to justice.

He said: "This was a life-threatening incident and we will do all we can to catch them.

"The officers believed the occupants may have been involved in a break-in and the car was containing stolen property.

"They followed the Sierra to Bolton where it reversed into the police vehicle several times.

"If the car had gone over the top of the bonnet, which can and has happened, then this could have been potentially fatal."