A MAN who was dragged out of his Volvo and threatened with a monkey wrench before thieves drove off in the car today blasted police after it took them 45 minutes to show up.

Steve Woolley, 41, of Pleasington, Blackburn, believes his high-powered Volvo S40 T4 might have been stolen to order after the alarm was triggered three times the night before it was taken.

In the incident at 2.45pm yesterday, two men dragged him out of the metallic green car, parked in Appleby Street, Blackburn, and threatened him.

He threw the keys to the other side of the road before running off.

He looked back, to see the men, who were wearing hoods and balaclavas, driving off in the the car.

Colleagues at Symology, the company where he is manager, dialled 999 -- but he says officers did not arrive until 3.30pm.

A police chief today defended the wait, saying it was not until a second call was made to Blackburn Police's control room at 2.55pm that they were told the robbers had been armed.

But Mr Woolley said: "I am absolutely appalled it took them so long to get to me. Even after the second call on 999 it was a good half hour before they arrived and that simply isn't on.

"I could have been in danger for all they knew. I am very angry about this. The whole thing has really frightened me." He added: "The car is normally driven by my wife but because the alarm went off three or four times on Sunday night, I said I would take it to Halfords. They could find nothing wrong with it.

"The alarm went off while I was parked at work. I went out to see what had set it off and then got into the car to try and find out what the problem was.

"I felt a hand grab my shoulder, I got out of the car and these two masked men demanded I hand over the car keys. When I saw the monkey wrench, I threw the keys away and tried to escape.

"I thought about trying to stop the car but I thought they would run me over.

"It is such a powerful car I can't help but wonder whether it has been stolen to be used in some sort of robbery.

"The police should have been here much sooner. I am writing to the chief constable and Blackburn MP Jack Straw about it." Chief Inspector Mick Gledhill, who runs the operations room at Eastern Division, said: "Due to information given in the initial call we did not prioritise the incident as highly as it should have been.

"After additional information was received from a witness the response was immediately stepped up.

"In fact, two patrol cars were making a search of the area for the vehicle at that time. I understand Mr Woolley is unhappy with the response and we will be contacting him to discuss his concerns."

The car is registered J111 POP. Anyone with any information should call Blackburn Police on 01254 51212.