A cyclist has today suffered serious injuries after being involved in a collision with a van which was being chased by police.

Officers were following the red Ford Transit van in along the B1145, between the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn and Great Massingham, because they believed the vehicle had been stolen a short time earlier.

The crash, which happened at about 10am, left the male cyclist, aged in his 50s, with serious arm injuries.

He has since been taken to hospital and the road closed for the emergency services to carry out investigations but the van was discovered burnt out at the nearby Great Massingham Airfield.

A spokesman for Norfolk police said a 28-year-old man from Cambridgeshire had been arrested in connection with the incident and had been taken to the King's Lynn Police Investigation Centre for questioning.

The force also said the matter would be referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) as standard procedure.

Officers have appealed for witnesses to the collision or anyone who saw the manner of driving of the red van beforehand to contact the Swaffham Roads Policing Unit on 101.