Three teenagers were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of burglary - with the assistance of a police dog and helicopter.

Police attended an address in Oakwood Hall, in Wylam, after 10pm and a man aged 18 and two men aged 17 were arrested on suspicion of burglary.

A three-year-old Belgian Malinois has been praised by police after helping to catch the three suspected burglars.

PC Rob Burn attended the area, but was unable to get to the scene by car - so he and police dog Raven made their way to the location on foot as the three suspects fled the scene.

PC Burn and Raven tracked the three males for 1.5km while being guided to their location by the National Police Air Service helicopter, before Raven tracked the three suspects down in thick woodland.

After being arrested, the three suspects have since been released under investigation.

“This was a very rural location and so it can be difficult for us to locate suspects once they have fled the scene,” said PC Burn.

“It was late at night and we were tracking on foot so it was really only down to the support of NPA’S that we were able to make our way to the woods.

“That is when Raven came in handy and when she started to bark I don’t think the three males fancied taking any chances with her."