A man has been arrested after a police chase along the M25 and M1 ended in a head-on crash near Hemel Hempstead.

Officers attempted to stop a vehicle on the A41 in Hemel Hempstead at around 12.05am yesterday (25 March), after police intelligence systems indicated that the owner of the vehicle was wanted for offences in another area.

The driver failed to stop and a chase ensued along the M25 before heading on to the M1.

A police spokeswoman said: "The vehicle then exited the carriageway, before travelling back down the M1 in the wrong direction.

"In order to minimise risk to the public, officers brought the vehicle to a stop, using tactical contact."

A picture posted on social media shows the front of both vehicles badly damaged and facing each other on the carriageway.

The police officers were taken to hospital but the spokeswoman confirmed no one was seriously injured.

The Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire road policing unit tweeted: "Our officers put their lives on the line tonight to protect the public from the driver of this car, who tried to travel in the wrong direction on the M1 to evade capture." 

A 28-year-old man from Barnet was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop, dangerous driving, failing to provide a breath and drug sample, criminal damage and domestic abuse offences.