A quick-thinking Shropshire farmer sparked a police chase after a thief drove past him with his £4,000 trailer after stealing it from his farm minutes before.

Tony Morris, of Upper Westhope Farm, at Westhope, near Craven Arms, raced home after spotting the trailer yesterday because he thought it was strange it was in use.

After realising it had been stolen, Mr Morris called police and officers launched a pursuit in a bid to catch up with the thief.

Officers eventually caught up with the vehicle towing the trailer, which had been dumped near Bridgnorth Livestock Auction in Tasley, Bridgnorth.

A man was then arrested after police searched the area and has been bailed pending further investigation.

Mr Morris said he spotted the trailer, with his name and number on it, as he made his way home from a job yesterday morning.

He said: “I did have to go across the yard and make sure it was my trailer, the dry patch from where it was was still there so they’d only just taken it.

“I raced home, rang the police and said, if you pull your finger out you might just catch them.”

Maria Hawkaluk, West Mercia Police spokeswoman, said: “Police received a report yesterday that an Ifor Williams trailer had been stolen from Westhope.

“Officers attended and carried out a search of the area and tracking what was believed to be the trailer being towed by a vehicle near Bridgnorth shortly after midday.

“It was followed for a short distance before being abandoned by the livestock market. A search was carried out and a man was arrested.”