RAM raiders were chased across West Yorkshire after their bid to burgle a Huddersfield post office was thwarted.

A Mitsubishi Shogun was smashed through a side wall at Lepton Post Office on Highgate Lane in Lepton just before 2am today.

It is thought their aim was to drag the safe from the shattered building.

People living nearby were woken up by the loud bang and immediately alerted police.

Officers raced to the scene and the raiders abandoned the Shogun and a Land Rover Freelander at the scene before speeding off in a blue Audi estate. It is believed the Freelander was to be used to drag the safe through the hole.

Det Con Stewart Green, of Huddersfield CID, said: "The car was followed by the police helicopter from Huddersfield through Dewsbury, Heckmondwike and Bradford before it was finally abandoned in the village of Esholt.

"Police cars were closing in all the time and three men were arrested."

Esholt in the Aire Valley used to be the setting for exterior filming for Yorkshire soap Emmerdale.

The three are a 22-year-old from Birkby, a 27-year-old from the East Bowling area of Bradford and a 32-year-old from Leeds.

All were taken to Eccleshill police station in Bradford for questioning.

The three vehicles were all seized by police and were being forensically examined by scenes of crime experts today.

A Post Office spokeswoman said: "Early indications are a lot of damage has been caused to the post office and it now needs to be fully assessed.

"Our priority is to get the office re-opened as soon as we can for customers."