FOUR suspected car thieves were arrested after a police pursuit ended with officers finding one of the suspects hiding in a bush.

Just before 9pm on Wednesday, firearms officers were on patrol in Gateshead when they spotted the occupants of a black Vauxhall Zafira acting in a suspicious manner.

Officers signalled for the vehicle to stop but it made off from police and led them on a high speed pursuit but officers had to abandon the pursuit to ensure the safety of other road users.

A short time later the same vehicle was found abandoned after colliding with a telegraph pole in the Sulgrave area of Washington.

Inside police found drugs and cash and enquiries led officers to believe the vehicle was stolen.

A search of the area was conducted by police and within minutes, three men and one woman were located and arrested.

One of the four suspects was found hiding in a nearby bush thanks to the support of the National Police Air Service helicopter.

Chief Inspector Louise Galliott-Thornton, of Northumbria Police’s Operation Department, praised the vigilance of those officers on patrol.

She said: “This was a fantastic response by firearms officers who were on patrol in the area when they noticed the vehicle in question.

“The four occupants were acting in a suspicious manner so we checked its details and were suitably concerned to signal for the driver to stop.

“He refused and then led us on a dangerous pursuit that was so erratic we decided we had to abort it to ensure the safety of the public.

“The fact the vehicle was then found crashed and abandoned nearby just underlines how poorly driven the vehicle was.

“The doggedness of those responding officers has then led to four arrests, including one suspect who attempted to take cover in a bush.

“I want to say a huge well done to all those involved and I hope results like these reassure the community that we are determined to keep you safe.”

The three men, aged 22, 21 and 20, and the 18-year-old woman have been released under investigation pending further enquiries.