MOTORISTS narrowly avoided head-on collisions as a terrifying high-speed police chase unfolded in a Hampshire neighbourhood.

Armed police officers swarmed onto Turnpike Way in Hedge End after giving chase to a white 4x4 vehicle yesterday afternoon.

Drivers have described how the vehicle was driving at speed towards oncoming traffic and weaving in and out of cars, narrowly avoiding a catastrophe.

Armed officers were joined by a police helicopter as the drama unfolded.

As reported by the Daily Echo, shocked residents watched in horror as police swooped on the neighbourhood with guns. Today police have confirmed the man arrested is a 32-year-old from the West Midlands.

One motorist said: “I wondered what was going on. I was driving past the retail park on Turnpike Way and a white car was driving at speed towards me on the same carriageway in the fast lane.“How he avoided a head-on with me or anyone, I'll never know - he winged it past me. “The police were on the other carriageway chasing.

“It really shook me up - you don't expect to see a car driving at speed down the wrong way of a major road.”

Another said: “It was a miracle he didn't have a head on crash. How he missed me, just past the roundabout, god knows.”

Police confirmed today a 32-year-old man from the West Midlands was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, failure to stop, and possession of a controlled drug.

He is currently still in police custody.