POLICE were “mystified” by a Ford Mondeo which sped off and led them on a five-mile high-speed pursuit.

The car raced through red lights and reached 60mph on residential streets in a bid to escape officers.

The incident began in Fecitt Brow, Blackburn, and led through Shadsworth, Knuzden, Oswaldtwistle, Church and Accrington, before police lost the car, which was later found abandoned in Charter Street.

Three men from the vehicle, who are believed to be in their 30s, are still being hunted.

Officers said they had checked through crimes in the area at the time, that the incident could be linked to, and had so far found nothing.

Police said that the pursuit may have started because the driver may have been banned or had no insurance.

Inspector Gary Crowe said that an officer spotted the vehicle being driven erratically and attempted to pull it over at 2.30pm on Thursday. But the car sped off.

The car completed a number of “dangerous” overtaking manoeuvres. Insp Crowe said: “The car was being driven very recklessly. Luckily no-one was hurt, but the decision was made to back off.

“The first officer who tried to pull over the car in Fecitt Brow was an advance pursuit trained officer and he was able to assess the risk as it started and continued.”

He said that the car, which has been recovered by police, had not been reported stolen.

The car was driven from Fecitt Brow to Rothesay Road, North Road and into Audley Range.

It then sped into Accrington Road and ran through red lights in the Intack area and overtaking numerous vehicles through Knuzden and Oswaldtwistle.

From Henry Street the car turned into Tanpits Road, where officers lost the vehicle as it moved along Blackburn Road before driving into Willows Lane.

From Willows Lane the car went through Brown Street, Richmond Street, Richmond Hill Street and Willows Lane again before being abandoned in Charter Street.

Anyone with information can contact police on 01254 51212, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.