Police say they received a report at around 8.40am on Friday morning that a man who was in a vulnerable state had left a house in the Ballyskeagh area and driven off.

The vehicle collided with three parked cars on the Belfast Road in Lisburn causing damage to them before failing to stop for police. The car then drove off in the direction of Lisburn.

A fourth parked car was damaged on the Blacks Road shortly before 9am.

Then at around 9.50am police spotted the car at the junction of Black's Road and Upper Lisburn Road at Kingsway driving from the direction of Belfast into Dunmurry village.

The car is then believed to have mounted the pavement narrowly missing three members of the public before colliding with a stationary car and a police vehicle.

The car was blocked by police but during this incident a total of four police vehicles and three civilian cars were damaged.

Police say the driver was arrested and the Police Ombudsman's Office informed.

It is understood seven police officers sustained injuries, none of which are life-threatening.

Superintendent Jonathon Kearney, who was in charge of the operation in Lisburn, said:

"The Police Service's priority was to protect the lives of all members of the public. In doing so police officers acted professionally and indeed couragously.

"I want to pay tribute to all those involved in this police operation this morning."