POLICE have arrested two more people in connection with the running down of two officers in Thamesmead.

A man aged 22 from Woolwich and another 22-year-old from Belvedere were arrested on August 25 and released on police bail to return to Bexleyheath police station on October 4.

Three other people arrested just days after the incident on August 18, in which one officer was seriously injured, returned to Bexleyheath police station last week.

An Erith man, 23, arrested in connection with causing grievous bodily harm and another man, 19, from Thamesmead, arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm when he voluntarily attended the police station on August 21, have rebailed until Saturday.

A 19-year-old woman suspected of arson and perverting the course of justice will report back to Bexleyheath police on October 3.

Just after 11pm on August 18, Sergeant Ian Ring, 43, who heads Thamesmead's Safer Neighbourhoods team, and team member PC Rob Evans were run down after approaching a silver grey Volkswagen Golf GTI parked in the car par of the Barge Pole pub in Harrow Manorway, to make routine inquiries.

Sgt Ring and his bike went under the wheels of the car before it sped off. PC Evans, 29, was treated for shock at the scene and has now returned to duty.

But Sgt Ring remains in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, being treated for a dislocated pelvis, broken collar bone and punctured lung. He has also undergone surgery on his dislocated shoulder.

He spoke for the first time since the incident to thank the many well-wishers who have sent him and his family messages of support.

Detective Inspector Kurt Conroy, who heads the investigation, is appealing for more witnesses.

Within an hour of the incident the car, which was stolen during a residential burglary in the Faversham area of Kent on August 11, was found burnt out in Leatherbottle Lane, Belvedere.

DI Conroy says the flames were fierce enough to attract attention and appealed for anyone who saw the car being driven into the street, being set alight, or any other vehicle parked nearby which could have been a getaway car, to call. He would also like to hear from anyone in the area of the Barge Pole pub at around 11pm on August 18 who knows or saw anything.

He said: "The shameful actions of the driver has caused outrage within the community and we are all shocked that one of our officers has been so seriously injured in this cowardly way."