FOUR people have been arrested after a suspected stolen JCB and Audi were stopped this morning by police.

A National Police Air Support helicopter was used at around 1.15am today, Wednesday, September 20, after the suspected stolen JCB and Audi RS6 were sighted together on Park Road South in Newton-le-Willows.

The Audi was pursued at high speed, stopped and searched and found to have a gas bottle, cutting equipment and an angle grinder on board.

Two men ran from the scene and a 27-year-old man from Haydock was detained nearby and arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary, aggravated theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, going equipped for theft, and driving offences.

The Audi is suspected to have been stolen during a car key burglary at Warrington Road, in Bold Heath.

Enquiries identified a second car, a Vauxhall Insignia, in the area, which was stopped.

Cash was recovered in the vehicle, and a 20-year-old man from Newton-le-Willows was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary and money laundering.

A third car, a Mercedes A Class, was also stopped and in the area and the two women, one aged 51 and one aged 21, both from Newton-le-Willows, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary and assisting an offender.

The JCB was located on Osborne Road and is believed to have been stolen.

All the vehicles were removed for further enquiries to be carried out.

The two men and two women have been taken to a police station for questioning by detectives.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.