A group of pedestrians have narrowly avoided serious injury after a car ploughed straight into them in central Manchester.

CCTV footage from the scene shows the pedestrians talking to someone in a blue Ford Focus.

The car then drives a short way up the road, before doing a u-turn and speeding straight into the group.

They were only saved by the car hitting a lamppost - causing considerable damage to its front end.

The incident happened at about 4.10am at the junction of Southmill Street and Peter Street in Manchester's city centre on October 15.

Detective Constable Dave Berry, of north Manchester CID, said: "Anyone who views this footage will be in disbelief that no-one was seriously injured or even worse, killed.

"The car was driven at high speed and can only have been driven in such a way with the intention of hitting someone.

"Were it not for the street furniture being in the way, these pedestrians would surely have suffered very serious harm and could easily have been fatally hurt.

"It is an act of outrageous recklessness and we need to catch the offenders."

Anyone with information should call Greater Manchester Police on 0161 856 3914 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.