TWO people were arrested after a telehandler was stolen and then crashed.

The JCB telehandler was taken from Thimbleby, near Northallerton, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. 

Police were alerted at 4.20am on Tuesday after the yellow machine was seen driving in convoy with another vehicle on the road to Over Dinsdale, near Darlington.

Roads policing officers from North Yorkshire Police responded and found the JCB on its side on a bridge over the River Tees between Dinsdale and Girsby.

Police saw a dark estate car heading towards Neasham over the Darlington border.

Officers from Durham and Cleveland Police’s road policing unit stopped the car on the A66 in the Middlesbrough area just before 5am.

They arrested two men aged 65 and 29 in connection with the incident.

The men were transferred to custody in North Yorkshire where they were questioned on Tuesday afternoon.

Witnesses or anyone with information are urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two, and ask for the Investigation Hub Northallerton.

Alternatively, information can be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.

Please quote reference number 12150199657 when providing details about the incident.