A POLICE hunt is under way in Fenland for a group of men who careered into a Tesco security guard in a car after running away with a 'large volume' of cigarettes.

The guard was not badly injured and one of those involved has been arrested but three others are still at large.

Police confirmed a 36-year-old man old caught at the scene has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to shoplift.

The drama unfolded at around 1pm at the Tesco in Hostmoor, March. The four men allegedly visited the main store first, purchasing cigarettes.

A Tesco spokesman said that, on their way out, the men visited the Tesco garage and attempted to purchase another 'large volume' of cigarettes.

Security guards approached after concerns over the men's credit card, but the suspects grabbed the cigarettes and made off.

Three got away in a car – thought to have been abandoned alongside the A141 - but the fourth was arrested. As the trio drove off they collided with a security guard who was treated at the scene by paramedics.

The Tesco spokesman said: 'Thankfully our member of staff has only received minor injuries but this was a serious incident which could have had an extremely different outcome.

'We are working with police and hope that any witnesses who can identify those involved come forward.'

A witness said she saw a car zoom off from the petrol station and a man come out of the garage afterwards with 'a load of stuff' in his hands. She then saw the same car abandoned off the A141 March bypass a short time later.

A police spokesman said they were 'called to reports of cigarettes being stolen from Tesco in Hostmoor Avenue, March, at about 1.30pm today (Friday).

'Officers attended and a 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to shoplift.

'During the incident a security guard received minor injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics.'