A FOURTH person has been arrested in connection with a series of armed robberies following a dramatic chase in which officers plunged into freezing water and tracked the man through undergrowth. Three police officers and the man they were chasing spent al

A FOURTH person has been arrested in connection with a series of armed robberies following a dramatic chase in which officers plunged into freezing water and tracked the man through undergrowth.

Three police officers and the man they were chasing spent almost an hour in the freezing cold waters of the River Delph, near Welney, before the officers' persistence paid off.

The incident happened just before 10pm on Saturday and follows the arrest of three people in Littleport.

Two men and a woman were arrested in a house on Millfield, off Ely Road, on Wednesday morning.

All four people have been questioned in connection with a series of armed raids at homes and businesses in west Norfolk and the Fens over a two-week spell last month.

On Saturday, officers saw the 43-year-old man travelling along the A1101 towards Upwell and gave chase after recognising him as a suspect in their investigation into the raids.

Helicopters from Norfolk and Cambridgeshire were deployed along with dog units.

Moments earlier the man had flipped his car after police ordered him to stop. He fled the vehicle leaving behind his 24-year-old female passenger who was injured in the crash.

The man ran off into wetlands and scrubland between Wash Road and the River Delph.

State-of-the-art thermal imaging equipment and police dogs were used to track him as he crawled through bushes and deep reeds near to the suspension bridge.

Police spokesperson Kristina Fox said: "Three officers spent almost an hour wading in the water through dense reed beds and undergrowth in an effort to locate and detain the man. As well as being keen to detain the suspect as quickly as possible, the officers had also recognised the risk to his safety, which was clearly compromised by the depth and exceedingly cold temperature of the water."

Temporary assistant chief constable Simon Bailey said: "I am extremely proud of the bravery of the three officers involved. This demonstrates their clear commitment to preventing crime and protecting the public."

The woman, a 24-year-old from the Huntingdon area, was assessed by paramedics at the scene. She has been arrested in connection with the incident and remains in custody in a police station in Norfolk.

The man also received medical attention and was later arrested in connection with the robberies.

The officers, who have not been named, were taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn to receive check-ups for hypothermia, but have since been discharged.