A stolen Caterpillar forklift left a trail of destruction during a bizarre police chase last week which ended only when a "stinger" device was used to blow its tyres.

Six people, including three police officers, were injured, and 10 vehicles were damaged during the low-speed chase, which at its height reached 20 miles an hour (32 kilometres an hour).

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman told The Scotsman newspaper that a police van tried to stop the forklift but was deliberately rammed, causing extensive damage and slightly injuring the police driver. A passing car was also damaged in the collision.

"A marked patrol car followed (the forklift) through the city, where it continued to be driven erratically, attempting to ram any vehicle which travelled across its path," the spokesman said.

The driver took the forklift the wrong way down a one-way street and headed out of the city on a south-bound freeway. It struck a BMW sedan and caused an accident involving four other vehicles.

It was not until the forklift was headed west towards Leeds that police used a "stinger" tyre deflation device, which successfully damaged one of the Cat's front tyres. A police car then rammed the forklift into the freeway's central barrier and stopped it.

A man was arrested and was "helping police with their inquiries", the newspaper said.

The police spokesman said while the chase did not exceed 20 miles an hour, the rugged design of the Cat forklift caused police "serious problems".