A MAN has been arrested after armed police chased a moped riding across pavements in Hove.

Police received a report of a moped rider without a helmet travelling across pavements near Seven Dials in Hove at 9.50am this morning.

The rider was later seen by firearms officers in an unmarked police vehicle in Kingsway, Hove.

He failed to stop for the officers and rode off towards Shoreham shortly after 10am.

Officers were alerted and the police helicopter was called to help catch the rider, along with officers from the roads policing unit (RPU).

The moped rider then returned to Brighton and eventually abandoned the vehicle near Haybourne Road in Brighton at 10.50am.

He was arrested by an RPU officer on foot in nearby Cooksbridge Road shortly after.

A 29-year-old man was taken into custody after being arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, theft of a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified, and failing to stop for an officer.