A SHOTGUN and starting pistol were found in a van when it was stopped by police officers after an early morning high-speed chase.

The guns were discovered by Lancashire traffic officers after they stopped the Ford Escort van in School Lane, Earby.

The chase began in Clapham, near Settle, after the van failed to stop for a traffic patrol. Police followed the van along the A65 and through Thornton-in-Craven before it came to a stop in Earby.

A North Yorkshire police spokesman said the two men, who are from Glusburn, said they had been out shooting crows, using the blank-firing starter pistol to scare the birds, and had fallen asleep in the van.

They became cold and decided to drive home when they were spotted by the police. One of the men had a shotgun licence.

The driver was interviewed in connection with driving offences.

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