A man wanted by police in connection with a number of shoplifting incidents has been charged with eight offences after police found stolen goods in the back of his Ford Focus.

Over the last few weeks officers in Rossendale had been seeking to identify a man after a number of shoplifting incidents had been reported in the Rawtenstall and Haslingden areas.

According to police, an off-duty officer had spotted the suspect in Bury, where he was subsequently detained and arrested.

Last week, Christopher Mather was charged with eight offences of theft from a shop and one offence of driving with no insurance.

A spokesperson for the police said: "Over the last few weeks we have been looking to identify a male in connection with several shoplifting offences occurring in the Rawtenstall and Haslingden area.

"A sharp-eyed off duty police officer has spotted the male in Bury, where he was detained and subsequently arrested.

"On Wednesday November 11, 44-year-old Christopher Mather was charged with eight offences of theft from a shop and one offence of driving with no insurance.

"A quantity of the goods were recovered and the black Ford Focus which he was using has been seized."