An arrest has been made after an ambulance containing three people was stolen from outside Royal Stoke University Hospital last night (Wednesday 25 March).

Staffordshire Police explained that officers were called at around 8.15pm to reports of a man getting into an ambulance while it was parked at the hospital and driving off.

A paramedic, a patient and another person were in the back of the ambulance at the time it was taken.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "Officers quickly caught up with the ambulance and followed it until the driver stopped on the Esso petrol station on the A34, at the junction of Liverpool Road and London Road in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

"A police dog and their handler searched the marshland near to London Road and found a man.

"He tried to run away but was stopped by our police dog."

Staffordshire Police said that no one from inside the ambulance was injured.

A 31-year-old man, from Stoke-on-Trent, has been arrested on suspicion of kidnap, vehicle theft, drink driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

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Staffordshire Police explained that he will be questioned in custody today (Thursday 26 March).

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police added: "Anyone with any information that can help with our investigation is asked to get in touch. Call 101 or use Live Chat on our website, quoting incident 743 of 25 March.

"To report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."