The hunt is on for a thief with a haul of fishing equipment who led police on a high-speed chase in south Essex.

Using a car stolen from Lakeside last month, the thief made off with petrol from garages in Wickford and Billericay before being seen stealing £1,000 of fishing gear from a parked car.

He then refused to stop for police in Billericay and was tailed until he abandoned the silver Ford Mondeo in St Andrews Drive, Billericay.

He ran off - carrying his fishy haul. Efforts by the police helicopter crew to trace him failed, so police believe he may be hiding locally.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: "At one garage he filled up a petrol can but when the car was recovered this, and the fishing equipment, were not there.

"We think he probably comes from the area and are looking for witnesses who may have seen him leaving the scene carrying a petrol can and fishing equipment."

Witnesses reported seeing the man let a woman with a child out of the car in Norsey Road, Billericay.

He was white, 5ft 9ins tall, in his 20s and heavily built. He had short brown hair, distinctive long sideburns and was wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans.

The woman who was dropped off had dark hair, olive skin and was wearing a red top.

If you have any information about the incident, which happened from 7pm on June 8 call PC Dave Fox, at Billericay police on 01277 631212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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