WITH VIDEO: A car has crashed into a house in Portslade following a reported police chase.

The Audi TT left the road in Valley Road, Portslade and hit the wall of the house.

Three men got of out the car and ran away sparking a police search for them.

MORE:

An eyewitness told The Argus: "Police cars were chasing the car and it lost control and ploughed into a wall.

"The police helicopter has been here searching for the missing men.

"There have been police cars going up and down the road. I have never seen so many police cars in my life. There must have been up to 15 with fire crews and ambulances.

"The car has hit the house so hard it has moved the tiles on the roof."

A fourth man was trapped in the car and after being released by Fire and Rescue was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft and was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital at Brighton for precautionary medical examination.

It is not yet clear if there was anyone in the house at the time but there are no reports of any injuries. The extent of the damage to the house is also not yet clear.

There are reports that the front of car caught fire after the crash but there are no reports that the fire spread to the house.

A police spokesman added: "The car, which is suspected of having been stolen, had been seen by patrolling police officers a short while earlier, and officers were searching the area for it when it crashed.

"The precise circumstances of that search are being looked into and the matter has been referred to the IPCC as a matter of standard policy because of the police activity at the time."