THREE people have been arrested after an alleged second-hand car scam in East Dorset.

Police were called to an address in St Ives at 8.30pm on Sunday, February 12 after three men visited the property to buy a car on sale through website Gumtree.

It is claimed that two of the men distracted the seller while one poured oil into the coolant system.

They then pointed out the fault to the seller and offered to buy the car for less money, although there was nothing wrong with the vehicle, it is alleged.

Sergeant Gareth Blaken, of Dorset Police's traffic unit, said: "Fortunately the seller in this case was wise to what was going on and when the alleged scammers left the address he informed the police.

"Officers were then able to stop a car on the A35 near Dorchester and arrest three men in relation to the incident.

"I would like to hear from anyone who has put a car up for sale or sold a vehicle recently where the buyers have acted in a similar way, particularly in the Poole, Bournemouth and Purbeck areas.

"I would also advise anyone selling or planning to sell their car to be aware of anyone operating as described and to report anything suspicious to police."

Three men from the London area aged 19, 23 and 24 have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and possessing an article for use in fraud and are currently on police bail until the middle of April 2017 pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police via dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 12:347.