Officers from a road policing unit are appealing for the driver of a van to come forward after a car travelled the wrong way down the A1(M).

The Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit has launched an appeal todau to trace a number of people who spoke to officers following the incident on Thursday as well as a van driver, as officers gather more information.

A silver Ford Fiesta got on the motorway at Stevenage’s Junction 7 at roughly 1.50am and drove down the northbound carriageway – heading south – to near Hatfield’s Junction 4, where police used a road block to stop the vehicle. It collided with a police car, but no-one was injured.

A 26-year-old man from Southampton was later arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving. He has been bailed to return to Hatfield Police Station on August 28.

Sgt Karl McDermott from the road policing unit is investigating.

He said: “I would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident, the collision or the events prior to or after the collision.

“A number of people stopped to speak to officers who were attending another incident at Junction 7 about this incident and I would like to hear from these people as they may have information that can assist our investigation.

“There was also a van with flashing yellow lights travelling alongside the Ford on the southbound carriageway, which appeared to be trying to warn other motorists. If you were the driver of this van please contact me.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Sgt McDermott via Hertfordshire Constabulary’s non-emergency number 101, quoting reference ISR 47 of August 7.