A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a police officer was seriously injured when she was hit by a vehicle.

The officer was responding to reports of suspicious behaviour at a retail park on Wilmslow Road, Cheadle, on Saturday evening when she was struck, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

As she approached the vehicle in the car park it was driven towards her at speed, GMP said.

Ch Insp John Picton said: “This incident is truly shocking, and shows how quickly situations our frontline officers attend can escalate.”

The officer was taken to hospital where she has undergone treament for her injuries.

“There is absolutely no explanation as to why this incident needed to end the way it did,” Ch Insp Picton added.

He said the officer was recovering well and “is being supported by all of us at the Stockport district”.

A force spokesperson said they “condemn all assaults on our officers who are working to protect communities from harm”.

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