TWO carjackers posed as police officers as they staged an elaborate attempt to steal a high powered sports car.

The pair - dressed in body armour and police-style uniforms - used a siren and flashing blue lights mounted on an Audi A3 to stop a Subaru Impreza as it was being driven through Bolton.

Four young men were ordered to get out of the car by the bogus cops and told to stand against a wall and hand over the keys to the vehicle.

The robbery happened as the men were travelling back from the Middlebrook towards Bolton on Chorley Old Road, close to the junction of Beaumont Road, in Lostock, at 10.30pm on Sunday.

The carjackers were wearing dark trousers and white t-shirts with black body armour along with peaked caps.

The occupants of the car became suspicious after noticing that none of the uniform was badged and challenged the conmen to show them identification. The pair then fled.

Det Sgt Ray Sherlock of Bolton CID, who is investigating the suspected robbery attempt, said officers always identify themselves by displaying their warrants cards.

"I've heard of people posing as police officers to commit other crimes, but not in what seems to be an attempt to steal a car," he said.

"The force does use some unmarked cars with lights mounted behind the grille and officers might be dressed in that type of clothing but the men in the car became suspicious about the way they were being spoken to and noticed there were no crests on their body armour. Any member of the public is quite entitled to ask a police officer for their identification."

Anyone with information about Sunday's incident should contact CID at Bolton on 0161 856 5740 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.