People living in Oxford, Banbury and Bicester were awoken by a police helicopter.

Bleary eyed householders place after 11pm last night (Monday, July 22) and ran into the early hours of this morning (Tuesday, July 23).

“There’s been a lot of sirens tonight as well and it’s flying low over the Hardwick area,” said one Banbury resident.

Another added: “That was disgustingly loud and scary. I'm glad it's gone now.”

READ MORE: Air ambulance called to Oxford football club

The flight path of the police helicopter.The flight path of the police helicopter. (Image: RadarBox)

“Police cars have been racing around the top of Ruscote and Hardwick for the last hour, no idea what’s happened though,” said a third.

The National Police Air Service told the Oxford Mail on Tuesday why a helicopter had been dispatched to the area.

A spokesperson for NPAS said: “A police helicopter from NPAS Benson was deployed at 11.44pm to assist Thames Valley Police in the search for a vehicle and suspect in the Bicester area.

"The total flying time was 70 minutes. The Thames Valley Police log number is 2427 of Monday, July 22.”

READ MORE: Police issue update on ‘highly venomous snake on the loose in Oxford’

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