Two police officers have been taken to hospital after their vehicle was rammed in Bishop Auckland.
PCs Hanratty & Jackson were on a mobile patrol around Etherley Ln when they came across a group fighting in the street.
As they pulled over, one of the suspects jumped into their car and reverse rammed the vehicle that PC Hanratty was driving forcing him to push the emergency button.
The suspect vehicle made off and was shortly located afterwards abandoned in the Etherley Dene area.
Police have recovered the vehicle for forensic examination.
The police vehicle was also recovered as it was no longer driveable – a full investigation is now ongoing.