A trio of teenagers have been arrested after a stolen car hit a marked police patrol vehicle head-on - injuring the officer driving.

The driver of the snatched car is suspected to have taken drugs.

The car, a Vauxhall Astra convertible, was reportedly taken from the driveway of a house in Lyndhurst Avenue, Margate, at about 1.40am yesterday.

It was located in Palm Bay Avenue, and during a short pursuit it was involved in a head-on collision with a second patrol vehicle in Dalmeny Avenue.

The driver fled from the stolen car, and the two passengers - 17-year-old and 16-year-old-boys, both from Margate - were taken to hospital as a precaution.

They were later arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent.

An 18-year-old man, also from Margate, was arrested on suspicion of theft of a vehicle, driving while unfit though drugs, and using threatening or abusive behaviour.

He was also taken to hospital.

All three have been released while inquiries continue.

The officer driving the police car suffered a minor injury. Another police member in the car was not injured.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to phone police on 01843 222289 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting reference number 11-0050