A suspected motorbike thief who was stopped in their tracks after police used a stinger device.

Police gave chase before using the spiked strip to deflate the tyres on the bikes in Westhoughton.

The suspected thief was taken into custody.

A spokesman for GMP Traffic said the bike was being ridden in a dangerous manner on to the M61.

He added: "A little surprise was set up when they entered Westhoughton.

"One successful sting and their wheels went snap crackle and pop just like their breakfast in custody.

"Stolen Bike recovered."

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The Bolton police force is currently running Operation Classify to reduce death and serious injury on the roads of Bolton, which saw 71 serious collisions in 2022, nine of them being fatalities. This trend, unfortunately, continued into 2023.

Excessive speeding alongside drink and drug driving and driver standards have been the main key causes of road traffic collisions in the area.

Drivers will also see electronic message boards on Bolton’s roads with messaging encouraging them to take care behind the wheel, along with other preventative messages that are applicable for that stretch of road.