CAR thieves brought terror to the streets of Bury in a series of attacks last night and this morning.

Police in the Whitefield sub division of Bury are urging motorists to be extra cautious following a incidents of theft or attempted theft of motor vehicles.

Four incidents occurred last night and on two occasions the offenders escaped with the cars and three further incidents took place this morning.

A 32-year-old woman was approached by two men on Church Meadow, Unsworth, who attempted to steal her Honda Prelude at 6.15pm last night. The men pushed the woman to the floor and stole the keys but ran away when they failed to start the car.

An hour later four offenders entered a business on George Street, Prestwich, threatened a 42-year-old male with spanners and drove away in his Volvo.

Then at 8.20pm a 28-year-old woman was grabbed from behind on Dales Lane, Whitefield, by a male who stole her keys, before driving away in her Audi.

Forty minutes later, a man wearing a balaclava attacked two men on Higher Ainsworth Road in Radcliffe with an axe after they caught him tampering with one of the men's BMW. The man ran away following the attack and no-one was injured.

The attacks continued at 7.30am when two men wearing ski masks approached a vehicle on Lowther Road, Prestwich, and dragged the driver out.

The victim was struck in the face with a monkey wrench but managed to fight the men off, who left without the car. The man is currently being treated for bruising in hospital.

In a further incident at 8.20am a woman driver had left her vehicle in St George's Road, Unsworth, with the engine running, when a man jumped in and attempted to drive away.

The woman tried to grab the wheel of the car to prevent the man from driving off, before he ran away.

And thieves struck again at 10am when a green Ford Explorer was stolen by two men from a woman on Park Road.

DI Jane Antrobus of Whitefield CID said: "I would like to remind motorists to pay particular attention to where they park their cars. Always try to park in well lit areas and keep the doors locked at all times whilst inside the car.

"This type of crime has increased in recent years as advances in technology have made it more difficult to steal a vehicle without the keys.

"When getting in or out of the car, be aware of your surroundings and who if anyone is waiting nearby."

Anyone with any information about these incidents is asked to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.