A MAN has been arrested after being caught attempting to break in to a car dealership in possession of drugs and a knife.

Police said they received reports of two people trying to break in to the Simpsons Skoda garage in Burnley Road, Colne around midnight.

Officers attended and boarded up a window which had been damaged but nobody was found at the site.

However police continued to check the area overnight and at 4.30am a man was spotted at the scene who ran off after being spotted by police.

The 34-year-old at first resisted arrest by police, who were forced to use PAVA spray, an incapacitant spray similar to pepper spray.

He was also found in possession a laptop stolen from a nearby house.

A police spokesman said: "We received reported from the public that they saw two men trying to break in to the car dealership.

"We attended and a window was boarded up and we continued to check the scene throughout the night.

"Around 4.30am a man was spotted and officers pursued him, but he resisted arrest and PAVA spray had to be used.

"After he was arrested he was found to be in possession of a knife, a quantity of drugs and a laptop which he had stolen from a nearby property."

The 34-year-old is currently being held in custody by police.