Bobby on bike catches his suspect

A man suspected of handling a stolen motorbike was arrested after a police community support officer (PCSO) chased him through a village on his bike.

PCSO Dave Collins, 44, spotted the man on a motorbike on a footpath in Dipton, Stanley, County Durham, on Tuesday.

The suspect tried to ride off on the motorbike but could not start the engine and ran away pushing the Suzuki.

PCSO Collins jumped on his police issue mountain bike and stopped the man who was arrested and is currently on bail.

The motorbike was reported stolen in a burglary in Burnopfield, County Durham, in 2002.

PCSO Collins, 44, has been a community support officer with the Durham force for two years.

His supervisor Sgt Susan Murray said: "This was a first rate piece of work which has led to recovery of a motorbike allegedly stolen more than three years ago.

"Our community support officers are there to act exactly in this fashion - getting to know the neighbourhoods and dealing with quality of life issues."