UPDATE: Further to this morning's story, the Met Police have issued the following statement: "Shortly after 01:00hrs on Sunday, 21 March, officers saw a white van being driven erratically on the A127 towards Essex.

"Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver failed to do so. A pursuit was authorised and the van was later found abandoned.

"Additional officers, including a dog unit and the National Police Air Service, attended. A 24-year-old man was located in gardens.

"The man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, taking and driving away, and failing to stop for police. He remains in custody."

Earlier story:

A CROSS-county chase from the outskirts of London ended with a van crashing into the side of the road between Grays and Chadwell St Mary in the early hours of the morning (Sunday, 21 March).

Residents on the nearby Woodside Estate were alerted to the dram around 1.45am with the arrival of the police helicopter hovering overhead and a number of police cars.

A pursuit began in Romford and was initially managed by the Met Police who then contacted their Essex counterparts as the vehicle, a white transit, entered Thurrock.

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It eventually came to a stop in Chadwell Road just past Palmer's College where an arrest took place. The van was recovered by the Met Police.

Thurrock Nub News will update when further information is available.