A suspect’s vehicle was brought to a ‘hard stop’ by police after a 50-mile Christmas Day car chase.

       Several police cars, a helicopter and other armed units were involved in tracking the car from Reigate, in Surrey to the south coast after it failed to stop.

       Police followed the car to Lancing – 45 miles away from Reigate – where Sussex Police managed to stop the car on the A27.

       A Sussex Police car was damaged in the course of stopping the Ford Focus late on Christmas Eve at 10.30 pm.

       Pictures from the scene showed the Ford Focus damaged on one side with its front light and bumper crumpled, while part of the police car’s bumper was badly damaged.

       The male driver of the Ford Focus was arrested on suspicion of several offences, including leading police on a miles-long pursuit from Surrey into neighbouring Sussex.

       Meanwhile, police in Buckinghamshire accused a suspect of “nearly ruining Christmas” on Christmas Eve after pursuing a driver through Flackwell Heath and Wooburn Green on Dec 23.

       The driver gave up on the chase by Thames Valley police when he came head-to-head with a police car. He tested positive for cocaine and cannabis.

       A spokesman for the Thames Valley police said the offender was a “Grinch”, adding that their “selfish actions of driving dangerously whilst on drugs nearly ruined Christmas”.