A NO-NONSENSE Police Dog followed his nose to locate a suspected dangerous driver who was hiding in the woods this weekend.

Shortly after 11.50pm on Sunday, officers instructed a driver to pull over on the Central Motorway in Newcastle.

The occupant showed no willingness to cooperate, instead pressing down the accelerator and driving at excess speed in a bid to evade police.

A pursuit was authorised, with assistance from the National Police Air Service (NPAS), as the driver headed through Blaydon and then through farmland near Whickham.

The driver then abandoned the vehicle and made off on foot into dense woodland.

But, PD Pike and his handler PC Jonathan Golightly were on hand to follow the trail.

Following a short search, the four-year-old German Shepherd found a suspect matching the driver’s description hiding in thick undergrowth.

A 30-year-old man was subsequently arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and remains in police custody at this time.

PC Golightly said: “This was another brilliant example of the crucial role that our dogs play in locating suspects, detecting crime and keeping members of the public safe.

“Despite it being dark and in a wooded area, PD Pike followed his nose and gave the suspect a scare when his hiding place was uncovered.

“It would have been very difficult for police officers to find somebody hiding in such an environment under the cover of darkness, but that’s when PD Pike came into his own and earned himself extra treats when he got home.

“He’s now enjoying a well-deserved rest, but he will soon be itching to get back out in the community to fight crime and keep everyone safe.”