A police dog helped detain three Hitchin teenagers in the early hours of this morning who have now been arrested on suspicion of a town centre assault.

German Shepherd Blue was called in – along with a police helicopter – after officers were called to Market Place at 1am to reports of an assault.

A man sustained an eye injury in the alleged attack, with a group fleeing the scene as police arrived.

Blue was given a scent to track, and led his handler through a park and into an alleyway. Blue then continued into the Westmill housing estate where a group was seen in the distance.

They then ran into the grounds of Hitchin Cricket Club off Lucas Lane, with Blue following their scent into a nearby field where the group were spotted again but continued to run.

The handler then released Blue who detained an 18-year-old man from Hitchin, who the German Shepherd bit on the leg.

A second group member then stopped and was detained, and a short while later a third was found by Blue near the field and detained.

The 18-year-old man received medical treatment at hospital for his bite before being discharged and taken into police custody on suspicion of assault.

The other two members, both from Hitchin and aged 17, also remain in custody on suspicion of the same offence.

Sgt Vicky Stoughton from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Dog Unit said: “The unit’s handlers develop a strong bond with their dogs and they make excellent partnerships.

“The handlers are able to make use of the dogs’ many attributes, including their sense of smell and brilliant agility, and this allows them to be a real asset, assisting officers around the three counties.

“You can now follow our team’s work on Twitter and Facebook by visiting www.twitter.com/dogpoliceBCH and www.facebook.com/BCHPoliceDogs. Here you’ll find the latest news about, and photos of, the team and our partners on four paws.”

Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to call police on 101.