A POLICE helicopter was scrambled in Warminster on Monday after a youth escaped from a car pulled over for routine checks.

Officers checking vehicles in Boreham Road called for back-up after the youngster ran off at around 11am, but he was eventually caught and returned to the car.

One eyewitness said: "There were about three or four police cars outside my house with the helicopter circling overhead. The officers surrounded one man who then seemed to lock himself inside the car."

Warminster police have played down the incident and said they would not be taking further action.