POLICE were sent on a wild goose chase for a low-level criminal.

The force sent a helicopter and cars out to the Boundary Road area of Portslade to look for what they thought was "something more serious" but turned out to be someone wanted for minor assault.

The chopper was sent out at around 2.30pm and the call ended more than two hours later, a Sussex Police spokeswoman said.

She said it was a "precaution" to send the helicopter along with cars.

The criminal was not caught, she added.