A dramatic car chase in south Shropshire involving two teenagers in a stolen vehicle ended with police being forced to use a “tactical manoeuvre” today.

The drama unfolded after thieves stole a vehicle from outside a home in Leebotwood near Church Stretton early this morning.

Police in a patrol car chased the vehicle and even used a stinger device to try to stop it but this failed leading to a manoeuvre being used to pull the vehicle over.

A dramatic car chase in south Shropshire involving two teenagers in a stolen vehicle ended with police being forced to use a “tactical manoeuvre” today.

The drama unfolded after thieves stole a vehicle from outside a home in Leebotwood near Church Stretton early this morning.

Police in a patrol car chased the vehicle and even used a stinger device to try to stop it but this failed leading to a manoeuvre being used to pull the vehicle over.

The incident was reported at about 5.25am today when a woman spotted the pair driving away in her Renault Scenic MPV. Police launched a pursuit of the car driving south at speed on the A49 at Church Stretton, but the youths failed to stop.

Peter Butcher, spokesman for Herefordshire Police, said: “The vehicle failed to stop and was followed down the A49 to Leominster, where an initial attempt to stop the vehicle using a stinger device failed.

“After driving through Leominster town and along the old Hereford road towards Hereford, the vehicle went around the Cadbury’s roundabout and began to travel back up the bypass on the wrong side.

“In view of the danger to oncoming vehicles, police drivers swiftly undertook a tactical stop manoeuvre, sweeping the vehicle off the road to the nearside and bringing it to a stop.”

Two youths, from Powys, were arrested. They were taken into custody and were due to be interviewed today.