A MAN was arrested last night after a stolen JCB collided with a pursuing police car.

Officers from Cleveland Police were called to a report that a JCB had been taken from a building site on Redcar Lane in Redcar at 7.50pm.

The police helicopter was called in, and officers followed the loader up Yearby Bank.

At one point the JCB collided with a Ford Focus police car, causing extensive damage.

A police spokesman said no-one was injured in the incident, and a 27-year-old local man was arrested after the JCB came to a halt in a field off Longbeck Lane in New Marske.

He was last night in police custody on suspicion of theft of the JCB, and other offences.

Witnesses are asked to call police on 101.