A MAN has been shot dead in a Warrington village following an incident involving armed police.
Two men have been arrested following the incident near Jackson Avenue, Culcheth.
Villagers spoke of panic in the streets as the incident unfolded around 7.20pm last night.
One teenage girl said she saw three people dressed in black wearing what appeared to be gas masks being chased by a number of other people.
She said there was a smell of gas in the air.
A number of people were out and about in the village centre when the shooting occurred.
Cheshire Police and officers from Greater Manchester Police are today still investigating the shooting.
A statement issued by Cheshire police said that at around 7.20pm last night (Saturday) a car was stopped in Culcheth by armed officers from Greater Manchester Police.
During the contact, a man in the car was shot and sustained fatal injuries.
Two men were arrested at the scene and remain in custody. The dead man’s family have been informed.
The full circumstances of the incident are now being investigated by officers from both police forces and the Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed and are to investigate the incident.
A Chesire Police spokesman said patrols have been increased in the area.
“The community of Culcheth should be reassured that this is an isolated incident and there is no risk to the community as a whole”
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said officers from the force were on a pre-planned operation in the area.
The shot man was later named by Greater Manchester Police as Anthony Grainger aged 35 from Bolton.
Three other men have been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.
David Totton, 33, from Manchester, Robert Rimmer, 26, of New Moston,
Manchester, and Joseph Travers, 27, of no fixed address, are all charged with
conspiracy to commit robbery between 24 January and 3 March.
