IT was a busy night for the NPAS police helicopter which was launched to reports of criminal damage, an attempted vehicle break in and a single vehicle crash.

The first call came in just before 8.50pm on Monday night after a car which left the road and hit a tree near the Bakers Arms Roundabout on the A35 in Poole.

Officers attended and nobody was found in the blue Porsche, which was registered to a Wareham man. A search was carried out with the assistance of police dogs and the police helicopter to look for the driver. Nobody was located and enquiries are ongoing.

Just after 4.40am this morning, police were contacted with reports of two people attempting to break into two vehicles in Chewton Common Road. The police helicopter carried out a search of the area in Highcliffe but the offenders were not found. A police spokesperson said that the investigation continues into the incident.

Around half an hour later, the police helicopter was launched following a report of a criminal damage and the breach of a restraining order in Heron Court Road in Winton just after 5.10am.

Officers on the ground found that a window had been smashed and a search was carried out in the area of Bournemouth along with the helicopter to try and locate the offender. No arrests have yet been made, but police enquiries are ongoing.