A man has been arrested after a police chase ended with him crashing into an electricity pylon.

Residents reported hearing sirens on St Andrew’s Road in Bishop Auckland at 9pm on Thursday (March 21) night as police tried to stop a car which had failed to pull over.

Officers spotted the “suspicious” car on Heritage Way in the town when it failed to stop and led them on a chase.

After what police described as a “short” pursuit the car crashed into an electricity pylon and the driver fled, attempting to outrun officers.

Two people in the car were taken to hospital in Darlington by paramedics, but are not believed to have been seriously injured.

A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a string of offences including dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without insurance, and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence.

He remains in police custody at this time.

A spokesperson for the Durham force said: “A man has been arrested following a pursuit in Bishop Auckland last night.

“At 9.05pm, officers spotted a suspicious car on Heritage Way which failed to stop for police.  After a short pursuit, the car collided with an electricity pylon on St Andrew’s Road and the driver left the car and attempted to outrun officers.

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“A 37-year-old man was arrested nearby on suspicion of several offences. He remains in police custody.”

Fire crews were called to the crash site but were stood down when a short time later.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “We were called to a road traffic collision on St Andrew's Road, Bishop Auckland just 9.11pm last night (Thursday 21 March). We dispatched a rapid response paramedic and a double-crewed ambulance. Two patients were taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital.”