A police officer has been badly injured after reportedly being struck by a car making off from the forecourt of a filling station during a spate of crimes in the St Austell area.

The officer had approached the suspect car at the Applegreen Service Station on Penwinnick Road and was hit as it left the scene.

The incident happened at around 11.40pm on Thursday, June 6, only a short while after a robbery involving weapons had taken place at the Texaco petrol station on Southbourne Road and there had been a burglary in Roche.

The car, a red VW Golf, was being sought by the police after reports of the burglary at around 11.25pm. Police had gone to Roche to investigate an incident in which keys were said to have been taken from a property.

Police said the suspects had left Roche and were travelling in the direction of St Austell, the car then being spotted at the Applegreen filling station by the officer.

Superintendent Jim Saunders said: “The officer was rushed to hospital by colleagues and has sustained serious injuries to his arm. He has since been discharged and we all wish him well and hope for a speedy recovery.

“The suspects left the area in the car and searches have been ongoing since in order to locate them and the vehicle. The car was displaying the registration plate EJ71CVE and we are now appealing for the public’s help to find it.

“I am also aware that there was a separate report of a robbery at the nearby Texaco petrol station at 11pm, where two suspects forced entry and took cash. Work is ongoing to establish whether there is any link between these two incidents.

“I would urge people not to speculate about this but if you have any information that might help our enquiries, then please get in touch and report it.”

Anyone with information and anyone who may have seen the car since the incident is asked to contact police on 101 quoting log 936 06/6/24.

Police are also appealing for witnesses and information following a report of the robbery allegedly involving weapons.

Officers were called at around 11pm to Southbourne Road after a report that two men had used weapons to force entry to the Texaco filling station and had made demands for money.

Police said they men are believed to have taken a small amount of cash and left on foot.

A spokesperson said: “The two men were described as being around 6ft tall and wearing dark clothing including gloves and balaclavas.”

Any witnesses to this incident can contact the police on 101 or via the police website, quoting reference 50240138386.