A man has been arrested after attempting to steal a telehandler in Middleton-in-Teesdale.

Police received reports after 6pm on Friday, August 16, that a JCB telehandler had been stolen.

Officers contacted the Rural Watch groups on WhatsApp asking them to keep an eye out for the stolen vehicle.

Not long after the alert, a vigilant Rural Watch member spotted the stolen JCB heading towards the Bishop Auckland area.

The tip-off was swiftly relayed to officers who quickly moved to intercept the vehicle.

Realising he was being pursued, the suspect abandoned the JCB and attempted to escape on foot.

However, with assistance from the National Police Air Service (NPAS) team a man in his 20s was quickly detained and arrested.

The JCB was later safely returned to its owner.

Inspector Mike Sammut said: “This incident highlights the power of partnership working under the Rurali initiative. The swift action of the local community and the prompt reporting of the incident enabled officers to respond rapidly and apprehend the suspect.

“This serves as a clear warning to those who think they can commit crimes in our rural areas – we are all watching, and you will be caught.”

The Rurali initiative is a network of people in remote areas who report suspicious incidents and share intelligence with police in a bid to reduce and prevent crime.