A MAN has been arrested after a high-speed pursuit with police through East Lancashire in which the stolen car he was driving was clocked doing more than 100 miles per hour.

Police had to use stingers to stop the Peugeot 207 which at times was being driven without any lights on, police said.

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The driver managed to evade police three times during the pursuit which started when he failed to stop when ordered to do so. He was eventually stopped at a roundabout after officers deployed stingers to end the 45-minute pursuit.

A 20-year-old man from Accrington has been arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent in connection with the incident. He was being quizzed by officers yesterday.

A police spokesman said the initial pursuit started when the driver failed to stop for officers in Higham Hall Road, Higham, at 11.40pm on Wednesday night. The driver drove off towards Barrowford town centre and managed to lose officers.

A police spokesman said he was next spotted at the Bull Holme Playing Fields, Wilton Street, Barrowford at 11.50pm.

Officers are then said to have put down stingers on the approach to the Bramley Meade roundabout on the A59 at Clitheroe, which punctured one of the car’s tyres.

The car was eventually stopped at the Northcote roundabout in Langho at 12.15am yesterday.

The driver of the car was arrested at the scene.

It is understood the police helicopter could not be sent out to assist in the search because of the adverse overnight weather conditions.

Community leaders have responded with outrage to the incident.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: “It is grossly irresponsible and reckless to drive in this manner and they put their own life at risk as well as those of other people. I very much hope the courts will punish those responsible severely.”

A police spokesman said: “Our officers attempted to stop a Peugeot 207 in Higham Hall Road, Higham, at 11.40pm on September 28.

“The driver failed to stop and left the scene at speed travelling towards Barrowford town centre.

“Officers put down a stinger on the approach to the roundabout on the A59 at Clitheroe.

“The car was brought to a standstill at the Northcote roundabout in Langho.”