Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a pursuit in Newcastle yesterday.

About 1am (Saturday 13 June 2015), officers from Newcastle Local Area Command were patrolling Wharf Road, Newcastle.

The police indicated to the driver of a white Hyundai i20 to pull over, when the car allegedly accelerated away and a pursuit was initiated.

After a short distance the pursuit was stopped due to safety concerns.

The Hyundai was seen later at Newcastle Road, Wallsend and a pursuit was re-initiated. The car has travelled through Maryland, Fletcher, Minmi and Lenaghans Hill and onto the M1 Freeway, before exiting on the southern exit of Palmers Road, Toronto.

The pursuit was again terminated due to safety concerns.

The car was located abandoned a short time later near Freemans Drive, Freemans Waterhole.

A police dog attended the location and found three people in bushland nearby.

They were arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station before being released pending further inquiries.

Central Hunter Detectives are investigating after a woman suffered serious burns in Morpeth overnight.

About 12.10am (Sunday 14 June 2015), there was a small gathering in the backyard of a home on London Avenue.

Police are investigating reports that while the 12 people were sitting around a small fire a 26-year-old man has allegedly poured an accelerant on the fire in an attempt to re-establish it.

The fire has come into contact with a 24-year-old woman who suffered serious burns to her face, neck, chest and upper legs. Numerous guests attempted to assist her douse the flames and she was put into a cold shower and emergency services were called.

Ambulance Paramedics tended to the woman and stabilised her before taking her to the John Hunter Hospital. It’s believed she has suffered burns to 50 percent of her body.

It is expected she will be flown by helicopter from the John Hunter Hospital to the specialist burns unit based at Royal North Shore Hospital.

Three other guests, two men and a woman, suffered minor burns and received some form of medical assistance.

A crime scene was established and was processed by forensic specialists. Police are speaking to witnesses and neighbours regarding the incident.

Inquiries are continuing.

Police have charged a man who whilst in his vehicle, struck and knocked over his partner during an incident at Argenton yesterday.

About 6.30pm on Saturday 13 June 2015, a 26-year-old man took his 24-year-old partner to a meeting with her 27-year-old ex partner to collect some belongings.

The man dropped the woman in Lake Road to allow her to walk the short distance to Robert Street to meet the older man. After gaining the items the woman called her partner to collect her, and the younger man drove to Robert Street.

Police have been told the man saw his partner having an argument with the older man who was seated in his motor vehicle.

As the man alighted from his car, the younger man feared that his partner was going to be assaulted and accelerated his Nissan 4WD towards the older man.

The older man was able to avoid the vehicle however the Nissan mounted the kerb of Robert Street and struck the woman, who was knocked over, with the 4WD passing over her. The Nissan continued through a wire boundary fence, through the front yard of a home and then exited through another wire fence onto Robert Street.

The driver then once again allegedly drove at the older man who was able to avoid the Nissan. The driver stopped his vehicle and checked briefly on the woman’s condition and fled.

Emergency services were contacted and the woman was treated by Ambulance Paramedics and conveyed to John Hunter Hospital where she remains under observation for minor injuries.

The 26-year-old man was arrested at Toronto Police Station about 7.30pm yesterday and charged with drive motor vehicle in manner menacing and drive manner dangerous.

He was granted conditional bail to attend Toronto Local Court on Wednesday 8 July 2015.