The youths drove on to the sliproad exit of junction nine of the M53 in the wrong direction at about 5am on Friday after trying to steal cigarettes and alcohol from Raddie's newsagents on Town Lane, Neston, earlier in the evening.

Cheshire Police chased them from the Westminster housing estate in Ellesmere Port and along Station Road towards the roundabout at junction nine of the M53.

DC Green said: "It is pursuit policy that we don't follow a car if they go onto the motorway in the wrong direction.

"If we had chased it and it had had an accident the police would be culpable."

During the same night there was a raid on the Sally's Hair and Beauty warehouse on the Sealand Industrial Estate where hair cutters were stolen. It is being linked to the other incidents.

Just after midnight the group were seen stealing a silver Vauxhall Astra from a driveway on Regent Street, Ellesmere Port.

An hour later they were spotted trying to break into Raddie's Newsagents.

Cheshire Constabulary spokesman Rachel Hayes said: "The occupants of the vehicle tried to smash a large window at the front of the newsagents, possibly using a brick. However they were unsuccessful in their efforts."

The youths were spotted by police on the Westminster Estate in Ellesmere Port at 4.50am. Soon after they were seen driving the Astra the wrong way up the M53 in an attempt to evade police.

The youths have been described as white and some were wearing shorts.

Miss Hayes said: "It is thought the incident could be the latest in a string of commercial burglaries in the Ellesmere Port and Neston area where cigarettes and alcohol have been targeted."

DC Kevin Green, of Ellesmere Port Specialist Investigation Unit, said: "It is thought there have been several witnesses to each aspect of these incidents particularly as offenders were disturbed when stealing the car and when trying to break into the newsagents in Neston.

"I would ask that witnesses come forward and provide us with the information we need to identify the people responsible for these offences."

DC Green can be contacted on 0854 458 0000 or you can call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.