A POLICE chase broke out involving a helicopter and drone after a driver allegedly fled a patrol.

A vehicle was stopped in Mayfair Avenue, Basildon at around 10.15am yesterday morning.

But police say the car then made off, sparking a chase through the town.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “As officers were carrying out the stop they reported the driver of the vehicle had made off.

“A search was carried out including with the use of a police drone and the National Police Air Service helicopter and a man was detained.

“He has been arrested on suspicion of drug driving.”

A spokesman for the Essex Operational Support Group, who aided the pursuit, said: “We deployed the Essex Police Drone to work alongside the National Police Air Service London and South East Region after a male ran off from the Basildon Policing Team.”

Road crime and family liaison officer Maria Buckley said: “Working together, units quickly located and arrested a male for various offences in Basildon yesterday morning.

“Officers conducted great team work as always with some assistance from the Essex Police Drone and the National Police Air Service.

“The suspect has been booked into custody.”

Kerry Smith, deputy leader of Basildon Council, praised police for making sure no one was harmed during the pursuit and added: “It’s a sad world we live in.”

The man was still being questioned by police last night as the Echo went to press.

He has not yet been charged in relation to the incident.

Anyone with information about the incident should call police on 101 or report it to them online at essex.police.uk.

People can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

You can also report crime completely anonymously on their website by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org.