Two people were arrested after a police chase through Royal Wootton Bassett.
Roads policing officers were deployed after Wiltshire Police received a report about a car being stolen in Marlborough this afternoon (Wednesday).
They intercepted the vehicle – a silver Vauxhall Vectra – in the Wiltshire countryside, south of Royal Wootton Bassett, and initiated a pursuit when the driver failed to stop.
It’s understood the chase continued into the market town and along the High Street at approximately 3.15pm – when many parents were on the school run.
A local woman told Wiltshire 999s that she and her children witnessed the pursuit passing.
She claimed that the driver “decided to go the opposite way through traffic lights while it was green for pedestrians”, causing them to be “caught on the middle of traffic lights”.
The National Police Air Service helicopter from Bristol appeared to be following the Vauxhall from above at that point.
Officers continued to follow the vehicle, before the driver came to a stop on farmland in the Purton area. The two occupants were arrested and taken to Swindon custody for questioning.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and taking a conveyance without the owner’s consent, and – presumably – numerous other traffic offences.
In a post on social media, a spokesperson for the Wiltshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit (RPU) said: “This vehicle was taken without the owners consent in Marlborough this afternoon.
“RPU intercepted the vehicle near Royal Wootton Bassett and after a short pursuit, the driver and passenger were arrested.
“The driver has no licence and was positive on a drug wipe.”
