A stolen van crashed and caught fire after a police pursuit on the A46 near Leicester.

The crash happened on the southbound carriageway of the dual carriageway at about 04:40 BST on Monday and involved a white Mercedes van and a blue BMW 1 series, said Leicestershire Police.

The BMW driver, a man in his 20s, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

A 26-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs and theft of a motor vehicle, said the force.

He is not thought to have suffered serious injuries but has been taken to hospital as a precaution, said police.

Both sides of the road were closed on Monday morning but have since reopened.

Police said the first contact with the van was at about 04:10 when roads police officers attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver made off.

The van was spotted again a short time later and a pursuit was authorised, with it travelling from the M1 on to the A46 against the flow of traffic where it then crashed.

Crews from the fire service and the East Midlands Ambulance Service attended the scene.

The police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit remains at the scene and any witnesses are asked to come forward.

Leicestershire Police added it will refer the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct watchdog.

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