Chased by cows and a police dog and then arrested - it wasn't a good night for one suspect.

Police have described how the 19-year-old had a brief encounter with "curious cows" in a field while fleeing from officers before a police dog brought him to heel.

The man was one of two people arrested following a car chase in North Yorkshire.

The drama began in the early hours of Sunday 3 November, when one of North Yorkshire Police's off-duty officers reported a vehicle on fire in North Deighton.

Intelligence soon confirmed that the vehicle, along with a white VW Polo, had travelled from Cleveland in convoy. The Polo was spotted by one of the force's Dog Units on the A168, heading back towards Cleveland.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: "When the Polo failed to stop, one of our Roads Policing Officers deployed a stinger. However, the vehicle continued on its rims up the A168 near Knayton, where an item was seen to be thrown from the vehicle.

"It subsequently turned off at Ellerbeck, where two males abandoned the vehicle. Inside the vehicle, officers found registration plates from the burnt-out car, a machete, and a petrol container.

"A third male, a 22-year-old man from Eston in Cleveland, was swiftly arrested from inside the vehicle on suspicion of multiple offences, including failing to stop for police, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, being equipped to steal, possession of an offensive weapon, and arson."

Meanwhile, the two passengers fled on foot, attempting to evade capture by crossing fields and navigating barbed wire fences and cattle grids.

"However, one of our police dogs, PD Kenai and his handler were hot on their heels," the spokesperson added.

"One of the suspects, after a brief encounter with some curious cows, was apprehended in a nearby field alongside a discarded bank card belonging to an unknown third party.

"The 19-year-old man, from Normanby in Cleveland, was found with a small quantity of cannabis and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of being equipped to steal, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a Class B drug, and arson.

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"An area search was made by our Dog Unit team with the assistance of NPAS, our colleagues in the air, however no one else was located.

Later, another team from the Dog Unit took over and searched the area, where PD Miki and his handler found located a brown leather handbag connected to the bank card found by PD Kenai, which was later recovered.

Both men have been released on conditional bail as investigations continue.