A MAN was arrested after a car chase and then a foot race following a town's Christmas lights switch-on.

The incident in Chepstow on Friday, November 29, happened after hundreds of people had gathered in the town centre for the Christmas market and to see the lights illuminated.

Police pursued a vehicle after it failed to obey signals to stop and succeeded in bringing it to a halt by using a stinger device, puncturing the tyres.

The driver then leapt out and hot-footed it away in a bid to escape, but fleet-footed coppers captured him when he found his way blocked by a fence.

Monmouthshire Officers posted a photo of the car, saying: "Team 1 pursued this vehicle in the Chepstow area tonight

"Vehicle successfully stung by officers, bringing the pursuit to a safe conclusion.

"However, he did not get very far as he could not get past a fence.

"In custody for numerous offences."

In a separate post, police appealed for a "track star" who ran away from officers in Caldicot on Wednesday, November 13, to run back to the police station for questioning.

"On the night of November 13, at around 8.30pm, a young male ran from officers leaving behind a pedal bike.

"Please can our runner, run to Caldicot police station as fast as they can to talk about the abandoned bike they left behind."

Anyone with any information regarding the identity of the man is asked to report it to Gwent Police quoting the reference 2400379015.

They can report any information to them by calling 101, messaging them on their social media channels, filling out a form on their website, or by calling Crimestoppers, anonymously.