DETECTIVES were today quizzing a 21-year-old man in connection with an incident which has taken a police car out of action.

DETECTIVES were today quizzing a 21-year-old man in connection with an incident which has taken a police car out of action.

The unmarked police car was hit by a Peugeot after officers pulled it over to a lay-by on the A12 yesterday afternoon following a number plate recognition check suggesting it was not insured.

After being stopped on the trunk road near to BT's Adastral Park at Martlesham at 3.30pm, the car reversed into the police vehicle as officers were walking over to it.

The driver then went on the run, prompting the force helicopter to scour the area from the skies.

A search proved unsuccessful but a member of the public then called in at 7pm to say he had spotted someone hiding in his garden shed in Martlesham.

Police went out to the property and arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking, criminal damage to a police vehicle and failing to stop for the police.

He is from the London area and was held in custody overnight.

A spokesman for Suffolk police said its vehicle had suffered substantial damage in the incident and has had to be withdrawn from the roads.

The incident left the front of the car crumpled and lifted up the bonnet a few inches.

“It is looking a bit sorry for itself,” he said.

An Automatic Number Plate Recognition Camera being used in the unmarked police car had flagged up the Peugeot as not being insured.

The spokesman said: “A 21-year-old man is in custody. We got a call at just after 7pm to a street in Martlesham where somebody thought he saw someone hiding in his shed and someone was arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking, criminal damage to the police vehicle and failing to stop for the police.”