Police chase... in a 27-year-old car

A 27-year-old Rover isn't the ideal vehicle for a police chase.

But that's what officers in Ruislip had to rely on when they ran out of patrol cars because all their regular vehicles were in use.

Safer Neighbourhood officer David Butler, who displays his classic police cars at shows, provided the 1983 3.5-litre Rover SD1 that enabled Sgt Neil Roberts and Pc Ian Scott to catch two suspects.

"Without the Rover we wouldn't have been able to stop these guys," Pc Scott said.

Police said later that officers were driving to a community event when the call came in.

Borough commander Julian Worker said: "This was a vehicle being ferried to a community event in Hillingdon Borough. It is completely street legal.

"The diligent officers concerned were monitoring their radios and responded to an emergency call from the public. They arrived on scene first and were able to arrest three suspects.

"As ever, I remain immensely proud of my officers particularly when they use their initiative as on this occasion.

"The Met is also proud of the car as in 1987 it was involved in the famous mercy dash taking a liver for transplant; it covered 27 miles in 30 minutes through Friday afternoon rush hour traffic. The drive was unusually captured on video and illustrates the skill and level of expertise of Metropolitan Police drivers."