A teenager was taken to hospital after he was Tasered during a police chase.

The youth was tasered by police shortly after midnight on Wednesday, October 24, in Garnet Close, Thornton Heath.

Police said the incident occurred when officers stopped a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old.

A police spokesman said: "One of the youths attempted to make off from police. Officers followed the suspect on foot. A Tazer was used against the 16 year old suspect and he was detained.

"Both youths, aged 16 and 17, were subsequently arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. Both were bailed to return to a south London police station on December 3, 2012."

A resident who witnessed the incident said: "Two policemen Tazered him and he was screaming. He obviously had some kind of anxiety attack."

"I think they thought he had a knife or something. The police have been doing a lot of work round here recently to combat gangs and crime."

But they questioned whether the police had actually been in danger sufficiently to use the Tazer.