THREE men are in custody after Greater Manchester Police swooped on a stolen car in Knutsford on Monday.

Officers struck on a car parked on Drury Lane, near the play area, in a planned operation just before 5pm on Monday, March 22.

Balaclavas, gloves, machetes, sledgehammers and a metal grid were recovered from the car after armed officers stopped the vehicle close to the Moor.

Eyewitnesses told the Guardian that police officers carrying guns ran down the road and apprehended the men, leaving the windscreen of the car smashed.

It is not known why the men were in the town.

The strike follows an operation by Greater Manchester Police's Force Robbery Unit into the activities of an organised crime group thought to be responsible for a string of serious robberies across Greater Manchester and surrounding areas.

The operation was carried out by firearms officers, the Force Robbery Unit and surveillance officers.

Three men have been charged over the operation and appeared earlier today, Wednesday, March 24 at Salford Magistrates Court.

David Whitehead, 31, of Tootall Drive, Salford, is charged with possession of a firearm without a certificate and conspiracy to commit robbery, Christopher Winder, 31, of Kingford Street, Salford, is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and Stephen Farrell, 30, of Mark Avenue, Pendleton, is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.

Det Chf Insp Anthony Creely, from GMP, said: “The weapons and clothing we have recovered shows we have disrupted a well-orchestrated plan to carry out robberies in the Greater Manchester and surrounding areas.

“We are committed to safeguarding people from violent, career criminals who do not hesitate to use violence to achieve their aims.”

GMP is working closely with the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) and other partner agencies to safeguard CIT vehicles during delivery and pick-up times, by utilising a number of tactics to further protect and offer reassurance to people working in the commercial banking and security industries.

Officers will use a variety of tactics to prevent robberies against cash-handling vehicles, including armed police vehicles escorting high-risk security vehicles as they carry out their normal deliveries, the use of overt and covert CCTV monitoring and patrol cars.