POLICE arrested a motorist who was spotted driving a car on a wheel trim without a tyre.

Last Monday, police in Chester-le-Street received a report of a suspicious vehicle with a missing tyre, driving along on just the wheel rim.

Officers located the vehicle in Sacriston where the driver was suspected to be drunk.

The driver was arrested and subsequently charged with drink driving and will appear at court in the coming weeks.

The arrest was one of a series of actions taken by officers as part of Durham police's Operation Trident - an ongoing campaign against high-harm crime and community concerns in Consett, Stanley and Chester-le-Street.

On Tuesday, officers from Stanley located a male who was wanted by Hampshire Constabulary on suspicion of several offences, including failing to appear at court.

He was subsequently sentenced to ten weeks imprisonment, and an investigation is ongoing by Hampshire Constabulary in relation to other matters.

On Wednesday, in Chester-le-Street, after receiving a report of a potential burglary in progress in the town, officers searched the area and located a man nearby matching the description of the suspect.

He was arrested and an investigation is ongoing.

In Consett, police received a reported of a trolley dash shoplifting incident on Saturday.

The suspect was identified by officers and arrested at a nearby address.

During a search, officers found a quantity of suspected drugs and an investigation was launched.

A police spokesperson said: "The temperature has dropped and autumn has definitely arrived.

"As the darker nights approach us, we continue our positive and proactive policing in your community under Operation Trident."

Anyone with information about crime in their neighbourhood is asked to contact Durham Constabulary on 101, use the LiveChat facility on the force website or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555111.