Car hits nursery in police chase

A high-speed police chase ended with a stolen car colliding with another vehicle before ploughing into the wall of a nursery.

A silver Peugeot being pursued yesterday by police cars and a helicopter southbound along the M6 motorway, came off at Junction 9 for Wednesbury and drove into Birchills, Walsall, at around 2pm.

The chase continued into Birchills Street, heading into the town centre, before the car hit another vehicle and then ploughed into a wall at the Sure Start children's centre where dozens of youngsters were inside.

The driver was arrested and is being held in custody on behalf of Greater Manchester Police. Greater Manchester Police today confirmed the car was stolen from the Rochdale area and the man in his 30s was wanted in connection with a burglary in that area. No one from the Sure Start centre was available for comment.

Express & Star photographer Dave Linney happened to be on the scene at the time of the crash and caught the moment just after the car crashed into the wall. He said: "It was almost a full-on smash into the wall and the police car was right behind it."