POLICE are searching for the occupants of a suspected stolen car after it was discovered on its roof down a secluded country lane.

A member of the public raised the alarm after finding an overturned black Ford Fiesta, which was blocking Church Road in Bowers Gifford, at about 12.30am on Sunday.

When police arrived, they found that nobody was in the car and the engine was cold, indicating that the crash had taken place hours earlier.

Special Constable Ricky Brown, who was first on the scene, said: “When we got there, we spoke to the member of the public who said it was further on down the road.

“They had gone and got the registration plate but had held back for us and the vehicle was on its roof.

“There was nobody inside at all.

“The engine was cold, there was no smoke and the brake pads were cold, so it could have happened quite some time earlier.”

The officers then called for the dog unit and the helicopter to assist in searching the area for the occupants, who could have been seriously injured.

Mr Brown said: “We were quite concerned that whoever was in the vehicle was injured,

“I looked down the road and we had a thorough search of the fields.

“There was no sign of any blood anywhere.

“We couldn’t find anyone. The helicopter was up there for a good 20 minutes”

Mr Brown added that the vehicle, which police believe to have been stolen, was a complete write-off.

He said: “The whole thing was smashed to pieces.

“The glass in the windows had all gone”

The car was then recovered and the road was reopened following a clear-up of the scene..

Police are appealing for witnesses and inquiries are still ongoing.

So far no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously.