This is the moment a police dog helped bring an arson suspect to heel after reports of a vehicle ramming through a fence in County Durham this morning. 

Police were alerted shortly before 5am this morning (August 13) to reports of a vehicle ramming through a fence near Coxhoe.

The caller reported that the vehicle was trying to break through the fence in an attempted burglary but appeared to be stuck.

A Durham Police spokesperson said: "After multiple failed attempts, the driver and two occupants are believed to have set the vehicle alight next to a housing estate and ran off into the field.

"PD Rudy, who was deployed to the scene to look for the suspects quickly picked up a scent and led his handler, PC Wallace straight to one of the offenders.

"Three boys, aged 15, 16 and 17 were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, theft of a motor vehicle, criminal damage, possession of a bladed article, leaving the scene of an accident and driving under the influence.

"The vehicle involved is also believed to have been stolen and will now be examined as part of the investigation."