A MAN was thrown out of his van in Bury after a carjacker stole it while he was still in the back.

The van was stolen in Haslingden at 10am last Thursday and, after stopping briefly in Nuttall Road, Ramsbottom to argue with the owner, the thief set off again with him still on board.

As he sped down Walmersley Road in Bury, the speed of the vehicle threw the van owner out of the back and into the road.

Police officers then spotted the van in Bury, pursuing it along the M66, through the Pilsworth industrial estate, and back onto the motorway and into Heywood town centre.

The offender stopped and reversed backwards, ramming a police BMW X5 traffic vehicle, causing it to overturn.

The two officers inside the police car escaped with minor injuries.

As the van sped off again, it crashed into cars belonging to members of the public several times before the thief reversed it into a second police car.

At this point, the road chase ended, but the police helicopter tracked the van and relayed this to police.

Reaching Tweedale Street in Rochdale, the driver attempted to flee on foot.

A 25-year-old man was arrested on nearby Kay Street on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, drink driving and assault.

Twitter account @onlyinheywood captured an image of the overturned police car in Heywood.

In a tweet, GMP Ramsbottom officers said: “Thank you for all the calls regarding the stolen van, the offender has now been detained and the man seen hanging to the back is safe!”