POLICE bosses have defended their actions after the car used by the IRA Manchester bombers was left on a town centre side street for more than three weeks.

The red Ford Granada was abandoned in Preston shortly after the explosion that ripped through the Arndale Centre on June 15 and collected a series of parking tickets.

But although residents repeatedly reported the suspicious car to police and traffic wardens, it was not identified as the terrorists' getaway vehicle until last Wednesday.

Detective Superintendent Mike Tonge, of Preston police, said details of the vehicle wanted in connection with the bombing were not released until last Wednesday.

He said that the bomb inquiry team in Manchester would have been swamped if they had been given details of every abandoned car found after the explosion.

"Details of this vehicle's make, type and colour were only given out nationally on Wednesday July 10," he said.

"Within hours, the vehicle was taken away to be examined.

"No evidence has been lost and when the significance of the vehicle was known it was passed on."

Greater Manchester Police have made no criticism of anyone involved in tracing the car and are now concentrating on trying to trace its journey to Preston and the activities of the terrorists after it was abandoned.

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