A 41-year-old driver has died after his car struck a tree during a police pursuit in Bedfordshire.

Officers travelling in a marked police car were alerted to a grey Audi being driven without headlights on High Street South in Dunstable shortly before 10.30pm on Saturday, the force reported.

The motorist refused to stop for officers, resulting in a chase as the Audi travelled along the A5183 towards Markyate.

At approximately 10.37pm, the vehicle left the carriageway and collided with a tree in the vicinity of Caddington, police confirmed.

No other vehicles were involved in the collision.

Following the incident, Bedfordshire Police made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which has since launched an investigation.