Police hunting for a driver who escaped following a car chase managed to trace him after he dropped his phone with his social media page open.

Officers with the Essex Roads Policing team reported a lengthy pursuit around Southend yesterday.

The chase, which involved a black Audi, ended in a crash in Hamstel Road.

A spokesman for the team took to social media to report the driver had managed to evade capture.

He said: "The driver managed to evade us but dropped his phone, which has his Facebook page open.

"Male now wanted for dangerous driving."

The team released an update hours later confirming a suspect had later been arrested in Southend by Essex Police's dog section.