SHOCKED witnesses have told police pursued a car in a high-speed chase following reports of illegal hare coursing.

Dog walkers and residents reported seeing the black car swerving across the roads before cutting through a field off Long Road, Lawford.

A helicopter and a number of police cars were involved in the pursuit after Suffolk Police were alerted to a group of men with dogs and a vehicle in fields near Capel St Mary.

Three men and a teenager from the Surrey area were later arrested on suspicion of hare coursing, dangerous driving, failing to stop following a collision and failing to stop when requested to do so by an officer.

They were later released under investigation.

A Suffolk Police spokesman said: “Police units were dispatched and the vehicle described was located.

“The car, a black Subaru, made off from officers and was then involved in a road traffic collision but still failed to stop.

“A short pursuit took place in north Essex before the vehicle stopped and the occupants decamped.

“Four men were arrested, brought to Martlesham PIC for questioning and have now been released under investigation.”

Melanie Calvert was driving along New Road, Mistley, when the car rocketed past her at about 3pm on Sunday.

She said: “It was smoking, heading along The Walls with two police cars chasing it.

“It must have gone past at about 100mph and scared me and my little boy.

“The car smelled of burned rubber, they overtook myself and another car at great speed, turning to go along The Walls.”

Another witness said: “I saw them drive across a field towards Long Road in a black estate car kicking up loads of dust travelling at high speed.

“We were worried they would exit there and hit us. They were exiting the car as there was no field exit.”

Hare coursing has been illegal throughout the UK since 2005 as the Hunting Act 2004 made it an offence to hunt wild mammals with dogs.

The activity involves using greyhounds, lurchers or salukis to catch and kill hares by shaking the animal in its teeth. The dead hare is usually left in the field or thrown in a ditch.