THREE stolen Porsches were recovered after a police chase across Swale, Medway and Maidstone early on Wednesday morning. The Boxsters, each worth £32,000, were taken from Sheerness Docks just after 1am but despite a search of the Isle of Sheppey could not be found.

By chance, two off-duty Sheerness police officers saw them at 6.21am leaving the island along the A249. They used a mobile phone to alert headquarters.

A patrol car followed a black Porsche towards the A249 junction with the M20, radioing ahead to organise a road block using a lorry. That car became stuck in traffic and the driver was arrested.

Another patrol car tailed the other two Porches - one red, one silver - at speeds of up to 100mph along the M2 London-bound. Medway police joined in and the cars left at the Chatham junction. The silver car stopped voluntarily in Maidstone Road, Rochester, and the driver was arrested.

The red Porsche continued along the same road but the police lost touch. It was later found abandoned in Binnacle Road, Rochester. The driver was arrested nearby.

Chief Insp Tony Bartlett said: "This is a brilliant example of commitment and team effort. I would like to congratulate all those who took part in these arrests."