An 18-year-old man has been arrested after police were called to Southbridge following reports of teenagers doing burnouts.

Selwyn Area Response Manager Senior Sergeant Dean Harker told Chris Lynch at 11.40PM last night police were called to four vehicles involved in sustained loss of traction in Southbridge, one of the vehicles had broken down.

He said when police arrived one person tried to run from officers across farmland.

When he was apprehended the man headbutted an officer while being transported to Rolleston police station.

The 18-year-old from Christchurch has been charged with assaulting a police officer, sustained loss of traction, escape from police custody, driving while disqualified, refusing request for blood, and breaching the Covid lockdown.