A SUSPECTED car thief sped dangerously through York at speeds of up to 70mph in a dramatic police chase.

The ten-minute pursuit - which saw three police patrol cars give chase through several streets in the Fossway area - started when a red Nissan Sunny failed to stop for officers.

The suspect sped off from Fossway and police said the chase took in Geldof Road, Victoria Way, Muncastergate, Barfield Road, Monkton Road, Byland Avenue, Huntington Road, Bell Farm Avenue and Dodsworth Avenue.

The early-hours pursuit ended when the Nissan crashed into a front garden in Huntington Road without causing major damage.

The suspect then ran from officers on foot, but was caught after a short chase.

A York Police spokesman said a 24-year-old man from the York area was arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent. "It started at 3.15am and ended at 3.25am," said the spokesman. "The car was travelling at speeds of up to 70mph in a built-up area in a dangerous manner. Nobody was injured and it was lucky it happened so early in the morning."

Meanwhile, police have renewed an appeal for witnesses of a crash in which a car veered off the A170 at Sutton Bank and plummeted 160ft into trees.

Four people were airlifted to safety on the road, between Helmsley and Thirsk, after a Mitsubishi Shogun left the road at a hairpin bend.

Two people in the car were flown to James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough, and two other people were taken to the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton. None of the injuries was believed to be life-threatening, the ambulance service said.

Inspector Nick Turnbull, of North Yorkshire Police, said anybody who saw the accident, or the vehicle beforehand, should get in touch with investigating officers.

The accident happened at about 6pm on Friday. Witnesses should phone Sergeant John Clayton, of Malton Police, on 0845 6060247.

A van driver has died after a crash in North Yorkshire. The man, who has not been named, was driving a white Ford Escort when it was in collision with a silver Peugeot 206, near Boroughbridge.

Police said the accident happened at about 3.20am yesterday on a road between Boroughbridge and Dishforth, at the Church Lane and Scaldhill Lane junction at Kirkby Hill.

Updated: 10:08 Monday, June 27, 2005