Police video shows chase through Herefordshire (From Hereford Times)

Police video shows chase through Herefordshire

12:52pm Monday 6th February 2012 in Hereford City

FOOTAGE released this week shows the dramatic moment when thieves were pursued by police in rural Herefordshire.

The chase – in August last year - was on after a van linked to drain cover thefts in Pembridge was spotted by a police patrol on the A4110 at Portway.

A “stinger” shredded the van’s rear offside tyre as it mounted a kerb to turn onto the A4103 near Hereford, but the thieves hurtled towards Worcester before doubling back up the C1125 to Sutton St Nicholas.

It was along this road that the drain covers were thrown out of the back of the van at pursuing police, the patrol car directly behind swerving and braking as the covers bounced along the road towards it.

More covers, and a large pick axe were also thrown as the thieves lead police along a series of unclassified roads around Bodenham before taking the A417 towards Leominster.

By now, the police helicopter had joined the chase and the thieves turned into Chapel Lane, Bodenham.

The video shows what happened next.

Those arrested, two of them teenagers, received sentences ranging from a suspended four-month prison term to community service.