EXTRA police officers have been drafted in over the festive break to protect bargain hunters from thieves.

With many shoppers set to take advantage of the post-Christmas sales, more than 100 additional officers will take to the streets of the borough and throughout Greater Manchester as part of an Operation Hawk blitz on street criminals.

Sales shoppers and visitors to the area will be joined on the streets by high-visibility patrols in addition to existing operations already in place.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Green, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "All available officers throughout Greater Manchester will be flooding the streets and going on patrol to ensure offenders have nowhere to hide."