Man shot dead by police in Culcheth, Cheshire

A man has been shot dead after a car was stopped by armed police officers in Cheshire.

The shooting happened at about 19:20 GMT on Saturday as armed officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) stopped a car in Culcheth during "a planned operation".

Cheshire Constabulary said the man was shot by police "during contact". Two other men were arrested at the scene.

The dead man's next of kin have been informed.

Witness Jessica Brown, 15, said: "I saw loads of police cars driving past and I saw three men run past the pizza place with gasmasks on and guns and police chasing them.

"Then my friend's dad came and picked us up and said it wasn't safe to be out here."

Jessica's father Anthony Brown said: "I was just putting out my tea when Jessica ran in screaming.

"I went to look but the police told me to get inside. It's shocking, Culcheth is normally a quiet village."

A car has now been removed from the scene close to the village supermarket and a care home for the elderly.

The scene of the shooting, on a public car park, has been cordoned off.

The car park is opposite a small shopping precinct in Jackson Avenue and backs on to the rear of a number of shops, restaurants and bars including The Cherry Tree pub.

Pub manager Mike Davies said his chef was in the rear yard at the time.

"He said he heard what he thought was a firework.

"He saw a whiff of smoke and then he heard screaming," said Mr Davies.

"We are all pretty gobsmacked that something like this could happen here in Culcheth, a semi-rural village," he said.

We are all pretty gobsmacked that something like this could happen here in Culcheth”

Cheshire police said patrols had been increased in the area. It said the community of Culcheth "should be reassured that this is an isolated incident and there is no risk to the community as a whole".

An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) spokesperson said: "The IPCC has been informed by Cheshire Constabulary of an incident near Jackson Avenue, Culcheth, Cheshire at approximately 7.20pm on Saturday 3 March where a man was fatally shot by armed officers from Greater Manchester Police.

"The incident has been referred to the IPCC who will independently investigate.

"IPCC investigators are at the scene and working with officers from both Greater Manchester Police and Cheshire Constabulary."