Police pay compensation for stinger blunder

Stingers are often used by police to puncture the tyres of vehicles during a pursuit

A police force has paid out almost £1,500 in compensation after a stinger fell off a patrol car and punctured the tyres of five vehicles.

The stinger was accidentally left on the car roof when it fell off on the A11 dual carriageway in Norfolk.

It was left on the roof when officers were "checking equipment in the vehicle", Norfolk Constabulary said.

The force said the officer involved was given verbal words of advice and that no further action would be taken.

'Lucky'

A police spokesperson added: "We further apologise for any inconvenience and distress that may have been caused."

Stingers, which are ordinarily made up of a row of steel spikes, are used by police to puncture the tyres of vehicles during a pursuit.

The incident happened at Spooner Row near Wymondham on 17 September.

A lorry driver who regularly used the A11 previously told the BBC that he swerved out of the way of the stinger. He wanted to remain anonymous.

He said: "At first I thought it was a rectangular piece of cupboard, because you always see rubbish on the road, but then I saw what it was.

"I swerved on to the hard shoulder and so did the car in front, but I looked in my rear-view mirror and [I saw] about four cars went over it.

"Luckily no-one crashed."