A SUSPECTED axeman has been arrested by police in Widnes thanks to the efforts of a clever police dog.

Cheshire Police was called to Cunningham Road in the early hours of Saturday morning following reports that a car had been damaged by a man with an axe.

After fleeing the scene, a suspect was later arrested after being tracked by a police dog, with the pooch also recovering an axe hidden in undergrowth.

A suspect was arrested on suspicion of putting people in fear of violence, before being released on conditional bail.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “At 3.15am on Saturday, September 28, police were called to reports of criminal damage at an address on Cunningham Road, Widnes.

“The caller reported that a vehicle parked outside their address had been damaged by a man with an axe.

“Officers attended, supported by the dog unit, and a man was located a short time later in a nearby field.

“A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of putting people in fear of violence. He has since been released on conditional bail.”

Cheshire and North Wales Police Dogs Unit added: “In the early hours of Saturday, a man in Widnes caused serious damage to a car using an axe and fled the scene.

“Luckily, PD Toro was on hand to track a man through a housing estate to his hiding place on a nearby playing field.

“The man then decided to run, but wisely stopped when challenged to a foot chase with Toro.

“Toro then retraced the route taken and found the axe hidden in undergrowth.”