A man was arrested after being chased down by a police helicopter along the Manchester Ship Canal last week.

Officers say the Police National Air Service helicopter was patrolling the skies above Wigan on Saturday, August 31, when they saw a group of riders driving along a canal towpath.

One of the riders was eventually arrested amid an ongoing crackdown on suspected anti-social behaviour on motorbikes, e-bikes and quadbikes in the district.

Sergeant Dan Canavan from the Wigan district team said: “Since the start of the operation in June of this year, we have continued in our efforts to deal with riders who are committing anti-social behaviour in our area.

“I know for a lot of residents this has been an area concern for a long time, and I am now delighted to be able to let them see an insight into how much time and resource has gone into dealing with these problem riders.”

Officers say when the riders along the canal spotted the helicopter they changed direction looking to avoid its CCTV camera and drove dangerously.

Along the towpath an officer managed to use a stinger on the wheels of a motorbike, leaving the suspect no choice but to abandon it before being picked up by another ride behind him.

A man was arrested after the chaseA man was arrested after the chase (Image: GMP)

The helicopter continued to track the riders to a remote location, giving out their location to officers on the ground who caught up with them and caught one of the riders.

The man in his 20s was arrested and later bailed, while three bikes were also found after the chase.

Police have launched a recent crackdownPolice have launched a recent crackdown (Image: GMP)

Police say that over the last two weeks, Wigan officers have seized eight bikes and two quadbikes, with two of the bikes and one of the quadbikes being confirmed as stolen. 

Since the operation to tackle and reduce anti-social behaviour on motorbikes, e-bikes and quadbikes was launched in the district, it has seen 38 seizures and 11 arrests in total.

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Sergeant Canavan said: “While some people may use off-road bikes in the way they were intended, others use them to ruin parks, playing fields and flagrantly violate traffic laws – the latter which we saw first-hand again on Saturday – and this is exactly what this operation is intending to prevent.

“Our work does not end here; we will continue to pursue those who think they are above the law and we will do everything we possibly can do to prevent this problem going back to how it was in years gone by.”

Anyone with any information or concerns can call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively, witnesses can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.