A DRIVER was arrested as police used a stinger device to stop a car during a chase through Blackburn last night.

It was one of two incidents in the town at around 9pm on Friday night with one involving a stolen Ford Fiesta and another a Nissan Pixo which was taken without owner's consent according to police.

PC Rick Hek, of Lancashire Police Tac-Ops in Blackburn, said: "The stolen Ford Fiesta was driving around and using false plates it had been spotted by an off duty Greater Manchester police officer and resources flooded the Livesey Branch Road area in an attempt to locate it.

"Stinger locations were set up for this and it was spotted by armed police officers after a short time.

"A pursuit developed and the vehicle was abandoned on Livesey Branch Road and the driver ran off unfortunately he wasn't located.

"This then led onto the second vehicle, the Nissan Pixo being spotted by our dog unit near to Ewood Park and then local initial pursuit officers pursued the vehicle back around the Mill Hill area.

"This vehicle was stung by Tac-Ops as it was pursued down Heys Lane.

"It was then stung again by a local Initial pursuit phase officer on Livesey Branch Road before it was then abandoned on Beachwood Crescent and the driver detained by local officers after a foot chase into Cherry Tree.

"Both vehicles had been driven in conditions which had put members of the public at risk and tactics that were used are designed to minimise the risk to members of the public. 

"Luckily no police vehicles or any other members of the public were involved and a safe resolution occurred."

The driver was arrested on suspicion of theft of a vehicle, supply of a class B drug and driving offences.