ROAD rage has been blamed for a dangerous high-speed car chase through York’s streets.

The drama began at around 11.45pm on Monday in Acomb, but has only just come to light.

DC Paul Mohammed said two young local men aged in their mid-20s were driving in a silver Vauxhall Astra.

Suddenly a red car appeared in the rear view mirror, accelerating towards them.

DC Mohammed said: “According to the driver, this vehicle was driving aggressively, furiously going up his back bumper and as far as he was concerned the driver of that vehicle was trying to get him to stop for whatever reason.”

DC Mohammed said the victim thinks that what may have caused the other driver’s reaction is that he braked lightly when the red car first approached.

He added: “It resulted in a car chase with speeds going up to 80mph. The driver thought he would be able to get away from the other vehicle but he couldn’t.”

The chase took a more sinister turn when another vehicle joined in.

At that stage, the chase had gone from the A59 junction with the A1237, down Boroughbridge Road, into Askham Lane, Gale Lane, and St Helen’s Road in Dringhouses before turning into Tadcaster Road.

But as the two vehicles raced up towards Blossom Street, another dark-coloured car, took up the chase as well.

The three cars sped down Nunnery Lane just seconds after a couple had crossed the road, around the Fishergate loop and then on to Fulford Police Station where the Astra pulled up. The drivers of the two pursuing cars then drove off.

DS Carl Nelson, who is leading the investigation, said the two young men in the Astra were terrified.

He said: “They were very frightened. They were really distressed and in fear for their personal safety.”

He said the people in the chasing cars need to be brought to book.

He said: “We want to identify these people so we can arrest them and find out what they were playing at. What we’re concerned about is that we’ve had three cars racing around at 80mph so there is a public safety issue.”

CCTV footage of the car chase can be seen at The Press website www.thepress.co.uk.

Anyone who knows who was driving the red or dark-coloured cars should contact DS Nelson or DC Mohammed at York CID on 0845 6060247.