Three men have been arrested after the number plate from a road rage incident led police to a stolen car, Class A drugs and several weapons, including a machete.

Officers on patrol in south west London late last night (Tuesday, January 17) began to track a vehicle after number plate recognition technology linked it to an outstanding road rage offence.

With police in hot pursuit, the suspects occupying the vehicle abandoned it at Clapham Common West Side.

During a search of the area, two men seen running away from officers were caught hiding under cars nearby. Two balls of Class A drugs were located under one of these vehicles. A third suspect found nearby was unable to give a plausible account for being in the area.

While human officers searched the abandoned vehicle, their four-legged colleagues from the Dog unit located a machete nearby.

Correct number plates for the vehicle were uncovered inside it, along with another set of number plates and two kitchen knives. Subsequent checks confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen by its true owner.

The three suspects were arrested for Theft of Motor Vehicle, Possession of Class A drugs and Possession of Offensive Weapons.

Wandsworth Police shared the events of last night on social media today (Wednesday, January 18).

In a statement on social media, it wrote: "Arrested | In the late hours of Tuesday 17th January, officers picked up two Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) activations of a vehicle involved previously in an outstanding road rage offence.

"Officers already on patrol in the area located began an immediate pursuit of the vehicle, which resulted in the suspects abandoning it at Clapham Common West Side.

"A search of the area found two males running away from the officers, who were then caught hiding under cars nearby, which wasn't suspicious to the officers one bit . Two balls of Class A drugs were also found under one of these vehicles.

"A third suspect was also found nearby and unable to give a plausible account for being in the area.

"Thanks to our Dog unit, a machete was also found nearby and taken off your streets.

"The suspect's vehicle was searched and the correct number plates for the vehicle were found, along with another set of number plates and two random kitchen knives. Checks showed that the vehicle had been reported stolen.

"All the suspects were arrested for Theft of Motor Vehicle, Possession of Class A drugs and Possession of Offensive Weapons."