A stolen tractor has crashed into the front of a house in a UK town, with the occupants of the vehicle fleeing the scene. The tractor crashed straight into the home in Priory Road, Middlesbrough, in what police believe was a "deliberate" act.

Police said those inside the tractor immediately fled from the area. The property is unoccupied, so therefore nobody was injured. However, as a precaution, neighbouring properties were evacuated, with members of the public urged to aboive the area. A police cordon has been erected around several nearby homes. A dramatic picture from the scene shows bricks strewn across the front of the property, with the red tractor's huge wheels seen on the driveway.

Detective Chief Inspector John Bonner, from Middlesbrough CID, said: "Shortly after 1am on Saturday, May 9, police received reports of a tractor being driven into a house on Priory Road in Middlesbrough.

"Those inside the tractor immediately fled from the area.The property is unoccupied therefore no one suffered any injury however neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precaution and will return once it has been deemed safe.

"We are currently treating this as deliberate, and a scene is in place while the investigation is ongoing. I'd ask members of the public to avoid the area where possible.

"Additional patrols will be carried out in the area over the weekend to provide reassurance to the community.

"I appeal to anyone who has information, dash cam or doorbell footage of the tractor, which was stolen from Yarm, in the run up to it being taken and driven to Middlesbrough, and the damage it did, to please get in touch quoting reference number 087639.You can provide information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."