A press photographer was left bruised and shaken after a routine 'snatch-shot' job turned nasty.

The incident happened when the Bolton Evening News snapper was outside Bolton youth court trying to get a picture of a defendant in a manslaughter case.

The photographer, who asked not to be identified, had already photographed three of the four defendents and was just about to take a photo of the fourth when a 15-year-old youth, claiming to be connected with the group, ran towards him.

The BEN man said: "He was shouting 'give me the film, give it to me'. Then he grabbed the camera lens and shoved it in my face.

"It was a bit sore but I still needed the photo so I chased the pair of them around the corner.

"When I got to them, the lad was even more aggressive and kicked my camera bag - breaking my flash unit in the process. He warned me to watch my back and then they both left."

Despite the trouble, he's as committed to his job as ever.

He said: "I was a bit annoyed that there was very little I could do about it. But I guess you have to put it down to experience."

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