POLICE in County Durham have launched an investigation to find the occupants of a stolen van after chasing the vehicle through rural parts of the region.

Officers from the Cleveland & Durham Specialist Operations Motorcycle Unit spotted the occupants of a transit van acting suspiciously in Wheatley Hill.

After trying to make a routine stop, the van tried to evade the emergency vehicles and was pursued to South Hetton, where it went off-road and the passengers decamped.

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It’s believed that the occupants weren’t detained and are still out there.

The van was found to be a stolen vehicle on false plates following initial investigations, with bolt cutters and an axe also found on board by officers.

The vehicle will now be examined by the crime scene investigations team, who will look for DNA inside the transit van that will link the occupants to vehicle.    

Enquiries are ongoing.

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