Four people were arrested after the Mitsubishi Shogun they were travelling in activated Northamptonshire Police's automatic numberplate recognition system and was chased by officers through the county.

But instead of making a speedy getaway, the thieves drove along the A45, did a U-turn and went back again on the wrong side of the carriageway, left the road and headed straight for Wootton Hall, before abandoning the Shogun at the Trading Standards department and trying to hide in a hedge.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: "A Mitsubishi Shogun had activated an ANPR check on the M1 northbound and the vehicle was followed along the motorway and then along the A45 towards Northampton.

"At the Queen Eleanor interchange, the Shogun - which had been reported stolen in a burglary in Belfast, Northern Ireland on February 10 - did a U-turn in the carriageway and drove against the traffic before leaving the road along a dirt track and through the perimeter fence of Wootton Hall Park.

"The Shogun was then driven across the playing fields on the park before the occupants decamped in the overflow car park close to the Trading Standards department.

"Off-duty officers who were on the park gave chase to assist in the arrest of the Shogun's driver and passenger, who were picked up hiding in a hedge near the ambulance station on Mereway."

A 19-year-old man from Darlington and an 18-year-old man from Bishop Auckland, together with two women - aged 22 and 20 and both from Darlington - were taken into custody at Weston Favell police station.

They were collected in the early hours of this morning by officers from North Yorkshire police for further questioning