SCHOOLCHILDREN and parents witnessed a dramatic chase in Wheatley this morning as police zoomed after a car.

Witnesses reported seeing a police helicopter circling and a speedy driver 'legging it' on foot after screeching to a stop.

Thames Valley Police confirmed it is investigating a car theft, which officers at NPAS Benson suggested involved a car that was left running to defrost.

Wheatley resident Meghan Moulford described the 'horrible' and 'scary' ordeal as she was driving with her baby sister in the back, at about 8.30am this morning. 

The 19-year-old said: "As I got to the tight corner on Station Road a car came speeding right up behind me, coming down the hill from the Garsington direction, and swung out in between me and another car coming in the opposite direction.

"He narrowly missed me. While going through the give way areas of the High Street, they managed to push a car off the road causing damage down the side.

"He was going very fast, about 40 or 50mph. Anyone from Wheatley knows you do not go that fast round the corner.

"It was a horrible experience, I really do feel it just by fate that I didn't get hit this morning. Hopefully they will catch whoever was driving."

Thames Valley Police said the car stolen was a white Kia Picanto that was pinched from Thame Road in Great Milton at about 7.50am. 

A villager who did not want to be named said she heard a car screech into the car park of The New Club, near Wheatley Primary School, at about 8.40am.

She said: "I heard beeping and this car spun into the car park, then the driver got out and did a runner.

"They had gone slightly past then swung straight in and legged it out the door. 

"It's a busy road with people going to school."

Herald Series:

The New Club in Wheatley where a police car chase ended. Pic: Google Street View

Miss Moulford, who was driving to the school, said she saw the abandoned car being recovered at about 9.30am. 

Tweets sent out by NPAS Benson suggest officers may have been chasing a car that was stolen while left to defrost, and said one person was arrested thanks to a member of the public. 

However Thames Valley Police spokesman James Williams said no arrests were made and urged anyone with information to call 101 quoting reference 182 (18/1), or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.