POLICE chased down a van driver in a high speed pursuit in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Residents were awoken to the sound of sirens and the NPAS helicopter from Markham Road to Charminster Road at around 12.30am.

With the help of the dog unit, officers then surrounded the white van at St Alban’s Road.

It is understood that the stinger was deployed to slow the van down during the chase. Residents also reported hearing loud bangs.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said at 11.43pm, police followed a white Ford Transit van that reportedly did not stop when requested.

The vehicle was followed through roads around the Charminster Road and the St Alban’s Crescent area.

The NPAS helicopter assisted and the van was stopped in an alleyway between St Alban’s Crescent and St Alban’s Road.

Two police cars were damaged in the incident.

When officers approached the van on foot to smash the window in order to detain the driver, it is reported that the vehicle was driven over an officer’s foot, causing a fracture to his toe.

The driver then exited the vehicle and was detained by officers.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said they witnessed one officer try to smash his way into the van via the driver’s window.

The van then smashed into other police cars surrounding it before escaping the van and fleeing the scene, the resident said.

Another resident, Ben Nabney, said he saw an officer limping with the help of one of his colleagues from the alleyway opposite the Coop towards a police car.

The 36-year-old window cleaner said: “The van was just going in circles around the block.”

Bournemouth University student Matt Joy said he was alerted to the sound of the helicopter overhead.

"We looked out of the window and saw that flying about," he said. "Then there were a lot of sirens. About four cars had gone passed - all with their lights on - I could just seen blue lights."

Mr Joy said he went to see what the commotion was about and found a large group of police cars at St Alban's Road.

"There was a large group of people and a white van in the middle.

"Some people said they tried to put out a stinger, others said there were shots being fire. There must have been around seven police cars. There were sniffer dogs out as well."

A 35-year-old man from Ferndown has been arrested on suspicion of driving offences and is assisting police with their enquiries.