A DRAMATIC 100mph police pursuit saw officers pursue a stolen car for around five miles.

The early hours drama ended in the village of Mellor yesterday.

Police were first alerted to a burglary at the Co-op store in Hornby Road in Caton, near Lancaster, at around 1.20am.

That was after an alarm at the shop was activated.

Police officers saw a red Seat Leon being driven away from the area.

Details of the car’s registration plates were circulated.

And it was spotted leaving the M6 at junction 31 at Samlesbury, where it joined the A59, driving east.

Officers gave chase as the vehicle was driven at 100mph towards Blackburn.

The car left the main road and headed into Mellor Village, where it was driven onto a small housing estate before the occupants abandoned the vehicle.

Four people got out near Windy Ridge and split up, running across nearby fields.

The police helicopter was scrambled and police dogs and dog handlers were sent out.

Meanwhile, a large number of cigarettes were seized from the abandoned vehicle, and officers also recovered a crowbar nearby.

The Seat had been reported stolen from the Manchester area in October 2013 and police said it was using false plates. Anyone with any informationcan can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

l Three men, aged 38, 22 and 21 and all from Manchester, have been arrested on suspicion of burglary. The 38-year-old has also been arrested on suspicion of taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent and driving a motor vehicle dangerously.