A teenager was arrested by Police in a canal yesterday after a dramatic chase on bike and on foot through Hamilton.

Officers carrying out mobile patrols in Princess Street noticed a motorcyclist carrying a pillion passenger whose helmet was unfastened and attempted to pull the vehicle over.

Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said: "They began to stop the bike and the pillion passenger jumped off and the man riding the motorcycle took Police on a chase. The chase went around the city of Hamilton."

The suspect dropped the motorcycle - which turned out to be stolen - near the office of The Royal Gazette on Par-la-Ville Road and made off on foot.

Witnesses said they saw him ditch his shoes before jumping into the canal near the Bull's Head car park, where Police took him into custody, in front of a crowd of onlookers.

Off-duty Policeman Detective Constable Brian Robinson said: "It was a high-speed chase. It went round onto Canal Road and onto Woodlands Road and they caught him in the Bull's Head complex."

Another officer at the scene said: "He ran out of his shoes."

Mr. Caines said the incident should serve as a reminder to bike owners to put a supplementary lock on their vehicles and park in well-lit areas.