A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of a raft of offences after police received several reports of a vehicle being driven erratically in a number of roads in Colchester.

Essex Police were called at about 8am on Monday by members of the public who spotted a silver Vauxhall Astra being driven erratically in Harwich Road, Ipswich Road and Mile End Road.

The vehicle had crashed into a number of other cars but had not stopped.

Just after, Essex Police were also called to Nayland Road to reports of a man getting out of a vehicle with a weapon.

Officers attended and arrested a 48-year-old man from Colchester on suspicion of driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a bladed article.

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He is being treated in hospital.

Chief Inspector Rob Huddleston, Colchester District Commander, said: “We would like to thank the members of the public who alerted us to this incident this morning.

“It will of course naturally cause concern within the Colchester community however I would say that within 19 minutes of the first call to us, a man had been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences.

“Our officers are here, across Colchester – and indeed Essex – for your safety and key to that is people reporting crime to us, as was the case this morning.”