A local resident who was waiting for his partner outside the Spar Shop in Broad Street, Ross-on-Wye was shocked to see a vehicle being driven at speed through the town, pursued by a police car. He said that he thought there was one unmarked police car also in pursuit.

He told the Ross Gazette that as the vehicle, a red Ford Fiesta, came up Broad Street it collided with another vehicle which had been parked at the side of the road.

The witness then saw the Fiesta continue to drive the wrong way up to the top of Broad Street and then turned right. He believed it then left the town.

He said:?“It was hair-raising and my partner told me that several people, who were heading to Spar, said they had to move out of the way very quickly.”

A police spokesman told the Ross Gazette:?“At approximately 7:45pm yesterday (October 30th) West Mercia Police received a report of a car believed to be on false plates.

“Police attempted to stop the vehicle however it has failed to stop and, subsequently, has been in collision with another vehicle on Broad Street, Ross-on-Wye before making off.”

The police spokesman added that Gwent Police officers had originally been following the vehicle and alerted West Mercia officers to the suspicion that it was on false plates. After the Fiesta collided with another vehicle West Mercia officers decided not to continue to pursue it. The officers then returned to Broad Street to take details of the incident.

Gwent Officers were not able to stop the Fiesta and a search of the area was unable to locate it.