A DRINK-swigging driver led police on a bizarre chase through south Oxfordshire at the wheel of a stolen dumper truck.

He was believed to be the same man who had earlier halted a train travelling from Bristol to London in open countryside west of Wantage.

The driver was challenged by passengers after being seen rifling though a couple of handbags and pocketing a personal stereo.

He suddenly pulled the emergency cord, and when the train juddered to a halt, he scrambled through a window and ran across fields near Uffington.

An hour or so later, Wantage police were swamped with calls from people who reported seeing a man driving erratically in a large yellow dumper truck and colliding with street signs.

A car sent to investigate caught up with the man. He was driving without

lights in Harcourt Road, but refused to stop.

The driver, seen to be drinking from what looked like a whisky bottle, even called out to a passer-by: "Which way to Didcot?"

With blue flashing lights switched on, the police car followed the yellow dumper up through the old Harwell estate towards Charlton village and out on the A417 towards Didcot.

The truck continued to weave along the road, with the driver waving at other cars in an attempt to clear his path. By the time he reached the Hendreds, two police cars were now in pursuit, but still the dumper driver refused to stop.

As he approached the Rowstock roundabout, other officers from Didcot joined in the chase, closely followed by police on traffic patrol. The police helicopter was also called in on Thursday night to illuminate the dumper's erratic progress with its 'night sun' searchlight.

It went up the hill towards Harwell, where the driver suddenly swung off the road through the laboratory's housing estate and across adjoining fields.

There the amazing episode came to an abrupt halt when the driver lost control and careered into a ditch.

Despite being injured in the hip, the driver still refused to surrender, and attempted to limp away from the scene, but was soon caught and arrested by pursuing officers.

A breathalyser test was taken but proved negative.

Police found items of jewellery on the driver which had earlier been stolen in a burglary in Wantage.

Other stolen property, including a video recorder and stereo equipment were found stashed in the dumper truck's shovel.

The injured man was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, but was discharged after treatment.

A 30-year-old man was today being held at Newbury, helping police with their inquiries, and was expected to be interviewed later in the day.

Sgt Bob Maskell of Wantage police said it was believed the man in custody was the same one who had earlier stopped the train.

The dumper truck was thought to have been stolen from the roadside in Grove where roadworks are currently being carried out.

Sgt Maskell said: "It was obvious to the officers as soon as they saw him that the man couldn't properly drive the truck."

"It was weaving about all over the place and bumping into railings. We shall probably have a flood of calls as a result from people reporting various bits of damage.

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