Police chief makes arrest

Oldham’s police chief Tim Forber swung into action when a man armed with a knife dashed across George Square in the town centre yesterday.

The chief superintendent was with Oldham PC Jonathan Bott buying a sandwich at a shop only yards from Oldham Police Station when they spotted the man wielding a 6in kitchen knife.

Both officers wrestled him to the ground.

The 33-year-old was arrested, taken to the Barn Street police station and charged with a racially aggravated public-order offence and carrying an offensive weapon.

He was due to appear at Oldham Magistrates Court this morning.