A WOMAN who died in a crash with a police van was the 24th person killed in six years in collisions involving police vehicles on 999 calls in Greater Manchester.

Angela Purcell, 38, was a passenger in a Seat Ibiza in an accident with a police van in Patricroft, Eccles, last Friday.

Police were responding to reports that a man armed with a hammer was attacking someone in a McDonald's restaurant at a shopping precinct near Eccles town centre.

Figures compiled by the Home Office show that Greater Manchester Police have one of the worst records in England and Wales for fatal crashes involving police vehicles over recent years.

Cathy Keeler, of the road safety charity Brake said: "We hope this type of thing acts as a wake up call for Greater Manchester Police to look very carefully at its policies and procedures.

"To have 24 people dying in crashes involving GMP vehicles in the last six years is unacceptable and we are sure the force will be taking this very seriously."

The statistics for April 2007 to April 2008 reveal there were two fatalities. In the previous year six people died in 157 accidents involving GMP cars responding to emergency calls or involved in pursuits.

In the period from April 2002 to April 2008 a total of 23 people died on Greater Manchester's roads as a result of GMP cars being in accidents while turning out to 999 calls or chasing vehicles.

In 2002/03 there were four deaths; 2003/04 six; 2004/05 four; and 2005/06 one.

Angela, of Thorn Road, Swinton, was the first to be killed in the current `counting year', which started in April.

The Home Office says emergencies do call for an urgent response and police should be allowed to pursue and apprehend offenders. But it says there has to be a balance between effective responses and pursuits and ensuring the public's safety.

Angela was killed when a Seat Ibiza she was travelling in was in collision with the van in Patricroft. Her niece Darla and brother Peter, who was driving, were also injured. The car was turning out of a junction on to Green Lane from Cromwell Road.

An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission will centre on the speed of the van, which had its siren and blue light on.

A GMP spokesman said: "Every collision involving damage to a GMP vehicle is recorded and investigated, and the standard of driving of the officer and adherence to procedures are continually assessed. Where there are fatalities or serious injuries the police officer is automatically suspended from driving duties until a full investigation has been carried out."