A STOLEN van has been recovered after a police pursuit in Middlesbrough.

The van was spotted by a North Yorkshire Police unit heading towards the Cleveland area.

When officers tried to stop the van, a short pursuit followed but ended when the occupants abandoned the vehicle in the Southbank area of Middlesbrough after colliding with a wall.

The driver made off into a field but despite the best efforts of police dog Elsa from the tri-force dog section, they couldn't be located.

The Northern Echo:

The end of the pursuit for the stolen Vauxhall van. Picture: Cleveland & Durham RPU

A VAUXHALL van stolen in the Northumbria force area on Thursday morning was seen leaving Stockton and located by a motorcycle unit heading into Durham Constabulary's beat.

The van was stopped by units from Cleveland and Durham using special police tactics, called TPAC, and its three occupants were arrested.