SUSPECTED car thieves who drove the wrong way up the A19 "miraculously" avoided hitting other vehicles.

The Vauxhall Nova containing four young people sped north on the southbound carriageway of the trunk road after ignoring police requests to stop.

A police patrol tailed the vehicle, also on the wrong carriageway, as it headed towards South Tyneside. The Nova, which reached up to 80 mph, narrowly missed oncoming vehicles.

It turned off the A19 and was abandoned at Downhill Lane, near Testos Roundabout at Boldon.

The occupants hid in bushes but were arrested after being tracked by the police helicopter's infra-red detector.

The eight-mile pursuit, which lasted 15 minutes, started in the former pit village of Murton, County Durham, at about 11.35pm on Tuesday night.

The blue Nova, thought to be stolen from nearby Easington, ignored a police order to stop and drove onto the dual carriageway.

A police traffic car followed while a panda car kept track on the northbound carriageway with blue lights flashing to warn motorists in the opposite lane.

A Durham Police spokesman said: "The Nova narrowly missed a number of oncoming vehicles.

"At that time of night the traffic would have been lighter than during the day but the A19 is still a busy road.

"At those speeds it is a miracle really that no other vehicle was hit and that no-one was injured or killed."

A 20-year-old man from Easington was arrested on suspicion of stealing a car and a 20-year-old man from Murton was arrested on suspicion of offences including driving while disqualified.

A 21-year-old woman from Easington was arrested on suspicion of stealing a car as was a 17-year-old girl from the same village.

They were taken to Peterlee police station for questioning.

Police are appealing for witnesses to call them on 0191-586 2621.