THIEVES have been accused of throwing stolen power tools at police in a high-speed chase.

Officers responded to a call that power tools were being stolen from a van in the Aberystwyth area in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

They said two suspects were identified but a high-speed pursuit began when they tried to flee the scene.

An 18-year-old man from Coventry and a 17-year-old man from Tottenham were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police officers and theft after a white Peugeot van crashed in Newtown.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the tools were thrown out of the window of the van and into the path of police vehicles in pursuit.

They said three men were taken to hospital with minor injuries after the crash, but no members of the public or police officers were hurt.