A HIGH speed car chase ended dramatically in a school car park - just minutes before it would have been filled with children.

A Ford Orion sped through the car park at Norton Primary School, Stockton, before the driver bailed out.

The car then careered into a teacher's car parked outside Norton Comprehensive School, which shares the car park with its primary school neighbour.

Pupils at the high school, in Berkshire Road, would have been in the car park just minutes later for their lunch break.

The driver was injured after jumping from the moving car when he collided with a pursuing police Range Rover.

He was arrested and taken to hospital with deep cuts to his right leg but will be helping police with their inquiries once released.

Paul Wray, headteacher at the comprehensive, described how the drama unfolded. He said: "A few minutes before 12 o'clock we heard the sound of sirens.

"A car, followed by a police car and a Range Rover, then came through the car park we share with the primary school.

"I don't know what speed they were doing. Thankfully, all the pupils were in class at the time, but if it had happened a few minutes later they would have been on their lunch break.

"Word very quickly got round school about what had happened. It is unusual and possibly a one-off, but I would always have a concern for pupil safety."

PC Alan Thackray, of Stockton's road policing unit, was in the Range Rover pursuing the Ford at speeds of up to 50mph in the built-up areas of Norton Road and the Albany estate.

He said the driver, who was known to police, had tried to escape when spotted by a motor patrol in the Portrack Industrial Estate area.

He then sped off towards Norton, before bailing out of his car and being struck by the police vehicle.

PC Thackray added: "It was a well controlled pursuit by experienced police officers.