Loaded gun found in stolen van

Police want to trace a man who stole a van from outside St Vincent's Primary School on Edenfield Road after it was later found with a loaded gun in the glovebox.

The red Ford Transit, belonging to HH Smith and Sons in Salford, was stolen on Saturday 23 August while workmen from the company were working at the school.

A man stole the keys to the company van at about 1.40pm and drove off behind another red van that he had arrived in.

The offender is described as white, 5ft 10in tall with dark hair. He was wearing a dark coloured T-shirt and light coloured three-quarter length shorts.

The stolen van was later found by employees of HH Smith and Sons in the St Helens area, with the false registration number MA02 XZC.

At about 10.50am last Wednesday (3 September), the employees found the gun after the Ford Transit had been recovered.

Police attended and recovered a handgun with live ammunition from the glove box of the van.

Detective Sergeant Joe Clark said: "The fact a gun with live ammunition was found in the stolen van causes me great concern.

"I appeal directly to anyone that may have seen this van between Saturday 23 August and Tuesday 2 September to get in touch. In particular people may have noticed two red vans travelling together just after the burglary."

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161 856 5351 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.