A car being followed by police smashed into a wall.

At about 4.30pm on Thursday a police patrol car discovered a red Ford Ka being driven without insurance in Middle Road, Shoreham.

The driver, who refused to stop for the officers, turned into Hammy Road and then Williams Road before accelerating into Wilmot Road and then Parklands. In Parklands the Ford mounted the pavement, drove over the grass, clipped a wall and then moved back onto Williams Road where it crashed into a black Vauxhall Astra and then a garden wall.

A number of men inside the car got out and ran off.

Officers are currently trying to identify who the Ford Ka belongs to. The vehicle had the registration number BK02 FXR.

PC Claire Saunders said: "We urgently need to find out who the Ford belongs to and where it has been driven.

"We believe it has been used in the Shoreham area in recent weeks and are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen it being used.

"We are also keen to speak to anyone who may have seen or heard it being driven in the moments before it crashed in Williams Road or those inside it escaping."

A 15-year-old and a 17-year-old, both from Shoreham, were arrested and questioned on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent, dangerous driving, possession of cannabis, driving without insurance and failing to stop.

Two 15-year-olds and an 18-year-old, all from Shoreham, were arrested and questioned on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and failing to stop.

All five have been released on bail until October 7 while officers carry out further inquiries.

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting serial 1076 of 19 September or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.