A POLICEMAN was recovering today after being injured during a high-speed car chase in York.

The officer was hit when he got out of his patrol car in Heslington and tried to stop a white Citroen AX carrying four youths, because he thought the driver looked too young to drive.

PC Julian Pearson and a colleague spotted the teenagers travelling from Heslington to Fulford around 3.40pm yesterday.

The car then headed back towards the University of York and when it failed to stop, the officers pursued them "at speed".

They gave chase along Low Lane in Heslington, where both vehicles stopped at a dead end, and PC Pearson got out of the police car.

But the Citroen set off again and collided with the side of his body, before making off across Fulford Golf Course towards the A64, where it was later found abandoned.

PC Pearson suffered bruising down the side of his body, from his shoulder to his leg.

Jamie Ashworth, Fulford Golf Club assistant professional, said he was teaching when he heard the Citroen skid for about five seconds followed by the wail of police sirens on Heslington Lane.

He said: "The noises drifted away, then they must have doubled back towards Heslington and we saw them flying past again at high speed. They were nose to tail."

He estimated the vehicles were travelling at up to 65mph in a 20mph zone, where traffic is controlled by speed chicanes.

Mr Ashworth said it appeared the Citroen was abandoned on a road beside the golf course, near the sixth tee, before the occupants fled to Elvington.

He said: "There were a lot of people around the course as there was a match on. Everyone was thinking: 'What the hell was that'."

A helicopter was drafted in from Humberside Police to help search for the vehicle and its male occupants.

They were finally caught outside the Yorkshire Air Museum, in Elvington, in a red Rover. Six arrests were made at about 4.35pm.

Ian Dewar, operations manager at the museum, who witnessed the dramatic events, said: "This was just another eventful day at the museum."

Both cars have been recovered by police, but it is not thought that they were stolen.

A police spokesman said the Citroen may have hit a couple of other cars.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said six local youths, all under 18, were arrested following the chase. Two are still in custody today but have not been charged. The others have been released.

PC Pearson was due to return to work later today.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the chase. Anyone who saw the car between Fulford and Heslington or who has information about the occupants of the Citroen, should phone Det Sgt Maria Taylor at York CID on 01904 669453.

Updated: 09:58 Thursday, June 17, 2004