A TEENAGER from Blackburn was today under arrest in hospital after a 25-mile motorway chase ended with a crash which injured two policemen.

A youth who suffered serious injuries in the crash was arrested in Cheshire after a chase which began in Blackburn on New Year's Day.

Police were alerted by the car's owner at around 8pm when she reported seeing someone she knew sitting in her black Ford Mondeo parked in Livesey Branch Road.

She told police the driver did not have permission to use the car.

Officers gave chase as the Mondeo was driven towards Hoghton before it joined the westbound M65 at junction three near Feniscowles.

Inspector Mike Simmons of Blackburn police said: "The car was driven along the M65 at excess speed and our officers gave pursuit as it drove along the M61 towards Manchester. When the car joined the M60 Manchester ring road, Greater Manchester police took up the pursuit."

The car continued along the M60 and on to the M6, where Cheshire police took up the chase.

The car crashed shortly after turning off the motorway at junction 21, near the Thelwall Viaduct.

Inspector Mike Moore, of Cheshire police, said the car drove along the slip road and collided with a police Range Rover which was parked on the slip road roundabout.

The officer in the passenger's side suffered leg injuries and whiplash, and was taken to hospital in Warrington where he was detained overnight.

The officer in the driver's seat suffered whiplash and was discharged from hospital after treatment.

A youth, who has not been named, has been arrested on suspicion of driving while disqualified. He was yesterday in hospital in Warrington where he is said to be recovering from serious injuries which are not life-threatening.

Police are to question the youth after he is discharged.

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