POLICE are hunting for a man who fled after a white van was crashed into a tree after a short police chase in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Two men were spotted talking to another man who was leaning into the white Mercedes van in Booth Road, Colindale, by a passing patrol car at around 2.45am.

Officers turned around to go and speak to the group, but as they approached the van sped off, ignoring police signals for it to stop.

It accelerated into Angus Gardens where the driver lost control and slammed it into a tree, but both the occupants were already out of the van and running away as police turned into the road.

One PC chased managed to track one suspect down hiding in some bushes, and sprayed him with CS spray before he was arrested after he jumped out.

However, officers are still trying to track down the second man in the van, which is registered to a business in West Hendon Broadway. It is not clear whether it had been stolen.

Anyone with information can call Barnet Police on 0300 1232 1212, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.