RAIDERS who smashed their way into Bury's newly-opened B & Q Warehouse were tailed by police helicopter during a dramatic eight-mile motorway chase yesterday (April 3).

Night staff ran for cover as the gang struck at 3.40am, hurling a concrete slab through a window and using shopping trolleys to load power tools into a stolen BMW.

As they raced away from the Heap Bridge store, they were followed along the M66 by police cars at speeds of 80mph. The GMP helicopter flew overhead, floodlighting the motorway and directing the operation. The gang left the motorway and were followed along the East Lancs Road and side roads before the high-speed chase ended in Pendleton, where the three men abandoned the car and their haul of power tools. Yesterday's raid was the second smash-and-grab at the B & Q flagship warehouse in just six days.

On Good Friday evening, thieves left a Ford Sierra embedded in a warehouse window before escaping with £4,000 worth of power tools. On both occasions night staff were in the store after security personnel had finished their shift.

A spokeswoman for B & Q said such raids were "very unusual" but added that they would be taking additional security precautions in future.

On the question of staff safety, she added: "Night staff are always told never to take matters into their own hands during situations like these."

Anyone with information can ring Bury police crime management unit on 856 81576 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

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