POLICE officers had to use their own car to stop a run-away tractor after the driver jumped off.

The incident happened after the patrol car overtook the Massey Ferguson tractor, which was being followed by a hard-top Land-Rover 90, near the Bell pub at Clows Top, near Pensax, Tenbury Wells.

The officers noticed that the T-reg Land Rover immediately turned around and drove in the opposite direction. The tractor driver then jumped off, leaving the machine in motion.

Neither of the officers was hurt and their vehicle was not damaged in bringing the tractor to a stop.

A police helicopter was used in the search for the tractor driver and a man was arrested shortly afterwards near Sneed Farm and remains in custody at Worcester Police Station while enquiries continue.

"Fortunately, the driver-less tractor was not travelling quickly and there were no other vehicles around at the time," said a police spokesman

If anyone has any information about the incident, which happened just after 8.30pm on Monday, they are asked to contact police on 08457 444888, quoting 179C/040405.