TWO men are helping police with their inquiries after a police officer was injured and another had to run for his life during a high-speed pursuit.

One Cleveland Police officer suffered whiplash injuries and bruising and a force car was damaged during the pursuit, which reached speeds of 100mph.

In the hour-long operation, the van hit two Cleveland Police cars and was driven at an officer trying to put down a Stinger device to deflate the tyres.

The chase began when two men were seen acting suspiciously in Lynn Street, Hartlepool, at about 7.30pm on Wednesday .

They jumped into a white panelled Mercedes van and drove off at speed down the A689 through Thorpe Larches.

Near Sedgefield Community Centre it reversed and rammed the lead pursuit car.

Later, near the Fishburn turn-off, it hit the second vehicle before heading back on the A689 towards Wynyard.

A Cleveland Police spokesman said: "During the pursuit, which was monitored and filmed by the police helicopter, a plastic drum and other items were thrown from the van on to the carriageway. A stinger was deployed to try to disable the van at the Samsung roundabout.

"But to avoid it, the vehicle drove over the central reservation towards a police officer, who had to run for his life."

The van then headed north on the A19 at speeds up to 100mph and another stinger was used at Hutton Henry, which succeeded in bringing the van to a halt.

Two men from Sunderland, the 34-year-old driver and a 31-year-old passenger, were arrested and were being interviewed at Hartlepool police station.