Police are appealing for help to trace the driver of a suspected stolen van who 'reversed at speed' into a GMP car, leaving a senior police officer injured.
The collision happened at around 3pm on Thursday (March 12) on Albert Royds Street in Rochdale.
An officer - Inspector Fern - spotted a suspected stolen van driving along the road so began to turn his vehicle around, the force said.
But as he moved his car, the van 'reversed at speed' into the driver's door of the police vehicle causing 'extensive damage'.
The van was later found abandoned on Stanneybrook Close, the force said in a post on the GMP Pennine Facebook page.
Inspector Fern was said to have suffered only 'minor injuries' in the smash.
The post added: "Inspector Fern would like to thank the many members of the public who came to his assistance at the time."
Images posted on social media show the Greater Manchester Police-liveried hatchback car badly damaged.
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The police car ended up side on on Albert Royds Street - on the side of the road towards Littleborough - and half on the pavement.
Police are now appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.
They would also like to speak to anyone with dashcam footage of the collision.
Anyone with information can contact the Neighbourhood team at Rochdale via email: rochdalenorth@gmp.police.uk
