A gang of youths stole a tractor to go on an early-morning wrecking spree through a residential area, smashing up a string of parked cars before dumping it, police said on Thursday.
Locals alerted by the crashing sounds saw the tractor ploughing into the parked cars before coming to a halt. They then watched aghast as the youths scattered before police officers and the fire service arrived at the scene. The devastation in the Tottington area of Bury, Greater Manchester, happened in the early hours of Wednesday and was photographed by local resident Mick Dawson, who told the Manchester Evening News that the tractor was abandoned shortly before one o'clock in the morning.
By that point, it had already caused severe damage to several cars. Three of the cars pictured – the silver Ford Fiesta, red Volkswagen Polo and silver Honda Jazz – were left damaged on Booth Street. The tractor was then driven to Booth Way, where it hit the dark grey Honda Jazz. Residents believe the tractor had been taken by the youths who fled after it came to a crashing halt. Mr Dawson said he saw the tractor as it stopped on Booth Way.
He said he was alerted by the sound of it crashing into a car, but luckily for him it was brought to a halt before it reached his own vehicle. "I was just going to bed and shutting the blinds in the bedroom," he said. "I heard the big noise and then four, maybe five youths running off towards Holthouse Road."
Other witnesses reported seeing firefighters in attendance after the collisions and an ambulance, before police arrived to take statements. North West Ambulance Service said there were no casualties at the scene. Residents commenting on social media described another loud noise as the tractor was later recovered from the scene.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “At approximately 1am on Wednesday, May 4, one fire engine from Bury fire station attended a road traffic collision on Booth Street, in Tottington, Bury. The collision involved a tractor and nine cars. Firefighters worked to make the scene safe and were in attendance for around an hour and 15 minutes.”
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