POLICE have been praised after arresting two suspected burglars who led them on a “dangerous” 120mph car chase for 40 miles around Braintree.

Undercover cops spotted the men driving a stolen black Audi S3 on false plates near Galleys Corner.

An unmarked car tailed the £36,000 motor - stolen six weeks ago from Bailey Bridge Road - down the A120 to junction eight of the M11 after it was flagged up by number-plate reading cameras.

Investigating officer Det Sgt Mark Cadd, of Braintree CID, said: “At that stage he’s realised it has got some cars behind it.

“It then started accelerating at speeds in excess of 120 mph. We had a number of vehicles involved in the pursuit, we also had the helicopter up as well, but police backed off when it was going at that speed.

“It put other road users in a tremendous amount of danger, particularly considering the Audi had a space saver on the front near side.

“If you combine that with the fact that it was weaving in and out of traffic you can imagine the danger it posed.”

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.