FIVE men were being question by police in Darlington this morning after a raid on a corner shop led to a high-speed chase.

The raid took place at the Co-op store on the corner of Lowson Street and North Road, in Darlington, at about 9.45pm last night.

The suspects escaped in a black Fiat Punto but were pursued by a team of expert traffic police, joined by a police helicopter.

The car was driven to Barnard Castle, speeding through the market town, before evading a police road block. But the car was abandoned on a farm track and the suspects made off on foot.

The car came to a halt at Eggleston Abbey Farm, near Barnard Castle, and despite fleeing the vehicle, all five were arrested nearby.