A HIGH-SPEED motorway chase was sparked off after a motorist reported that a van driver was allegedly brandishing a gun.

Police swooped on the white transit which was finally stopped on the coast-bound carriage way of the M2 at the Chatham turn-off.

The drama started yesterday morning at about 11.45am when a report was received that the weapon had been spotted in the Blackwall Tunnel area of South East London. Detectives caught up with the van about 20 minutes later with several police cars bringing it to a standstill on the hard shoulder.

Three occupants, including the driver, were arrested and taken to Chatham Police Station for questioning. A police spokesman said: “As with any matter concerning a gun we take this very seriously." A search was being made for any weapon.

The hot pursuit caused considerable tailbacks on both carriageways of the motorway immediately afterwards, but traffic was running smoothly within an hour.