A MASSIVE hunt has been launched after a crime gang drove the wrong way down the M65, crashed and then vanished.

The drama happened after the thieves were chased for 20 minutes by police and the force helicopter.

The gang had stolen £30,000 of flat screen computer monitors and projectors in a night-time swoop on a lorry at the Altham Industrial Estate.

But they were spotted raiding the vehicle as the driver slept by a worker in Shorten Brook Way who dialled 999.

When a police car turned up at the scene, the gang fled, leading officers on a 20 minute pursuit before they made their getaway.

The white Ford Transit van, which was stolen from Wigan and had false registration plates, headed the short distance to junction eight of the M65 for Hapton, Huncoat and Padiham.

But the vehicle then drove the wrong way up an exit sliproad onto the eastbound carriageway.

Police cars gave up the pursuit at this stage, fearing other motorists' safety would be put at risk.

The force helictoper continued to track the van as it headed towards Blackburn on the eastbound carriageway against the flow of traffic.

By this time, police patrol cars had returned to the pusuit as they followed the van from the westbound carriageway.

Police said the gang then drove for a mile down the M65 before the van did a sudden u-turn and crashed into the embankment and through a wooden fence at 1.52am yesterday.

Officers swooped on the vehicle and seized the goods, but the gang had run off.

A massive search of the fields around the area with the aid of police patrols and dogs was carried out but the raiders escaped.

Detective Sergeant Zoe Russo, of Accrington CID, said: "We are keen to speak to anyone with information to contact police.

"I would appeal for any witnesses who saw anything suspicious at the time of the incident to come forward."

Inspector Rob Campbell added: "The pursuit of the was in the early hours of the morning and fortunately the roads were quiet."

The industrial estate is a known hotspot for crimes committed by criminals travelling in from outside Lancashire to plunder lorries.

Earlier this year police worked with companies on the site to warn of the dangers of parking wagons at the site before deliveries.

In 2006, companies on the site voted for a self-imposed levy to fund the security improvements, which saw CCTV cameras fitted with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) around the premises.

Anyone with information about the raid urged to contact police on 0845 1 25 35 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.