POLICE arrested three youths after a stolen pick-up was driven at speeds of up to 70mph through Oxford.

Police started a ten-minute pursuit of a silver-coloured Mitsubishi L200 pick-up, that had been stolen from Bampton Close, at about 7pm on Thursday.

A police spokesman said: "It was driven dangerously and at speed around the Blackbird Leys area, sometimes hitting 70mph in 30mph zones.

"A 14-year-old boy, a 16-year-old male and a 15-year-old girl were later arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking without consent and are currently in custody."

In a separate case, a man has been arrested and charged with stealing a contractor's Leyland van from the Oxford Brookes University campus over the weekend of November 25-26.

Phillip Hall, 19, of no fixed abode, was arrested and charged with theft. He appeared at Oxford Magistrates' Court yesterday and was remanded for one month until he is due to appear at the same court.

Det Sgt Nik Garside, of Oxford's Auto Crime Team, said: "We are doing all we can to combat car crime in Blackbird Leys and the rest of Oxford, which is a serious concern for residents. It is reflected by the number of officers present on the estate this week and also the large number arrests we have made over recent weeks.

"We have arrested ten people for the theft of vehicles and charged five with various car-related offences this week alone. This effort is part of Oxford police's ongoing campaign against car crime and antisocial behaviour."