A Chief Constable led from the front when he witnessed a road rage punch-up only minutes after pledging a clamp down on crime.

Sean Price, head of Cleveland Police, had been at a meeting with community leaders in Loftus and assured them he was serious about his "tough on crime" pledge.

As he was being driven back to police HQ in Middlesbrough he saw four men at the side of the road - one armed with a wrench - involved in a full-scale punch-up.

Despite not wearing body armour or having any protection such as truncheon or CS spray, Mr Price ordered his staff officer, Sergeant Alastair Simpson, to stop and they leapt out of the car to confront the yobs.

Mr Price and Sgt Simpson managed to subdue the group and all four were arrested and taken into custody. A quantity of drugs was found.

The chief constable said: "As a police officer you can't ignore what's happening in the street.

"I had been at a meeting and my staff officer and I were travelling back to Middlesbrough in an unmarked car which is why I wasn't carrying my handcuffs and kit.

"As we were driving back there was an incident in Brotton which Alistair and I dealt with. One of the men had a wrench.

"I don't think they knew that I was the Chief Constable."

The incident happened last Friday and the Mr Price had to miss an evening engagement as he spent the night booking the prisoners.

Mayor of Middlesbrough, former detective Ray Mallon, said: ""By his actions the Chief has led from the front and demonstrated what good policing is all about."

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: "Four men have been arrested for a range of alleged offences including affray following a fight which police believe was the result of a suspected road rage incident.

"The Chief Constable and his staff officer were involved in the arrests.

"The four men, aged between late teens and early 20s, were released on police bail and a file is being prepared for the CPS."